Kane Williamson returns as New Zealand name strong 20-man squad for England tour

New Zealand have named a strong 20-man squad for the three-match Test series against England starting June 2, and the squad sees the return of skipper Kane Williamson, who missed  the Kiwis’ last two series with an elbow injury. Vice-captain Tom Latham led the Black Caps against both Bangladesh and South Africa, but Williamson returns to the squad for the tour of England, having successfully recovered from the elbow problem that kept him out of action post November. 

The 20-member squad also sees a call-up for Wellington all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit over the years. Earlier this year Bracewell earned his maiden ODI and T20I call-ups, and fared well with the ball in the three-match series against Netherlands. The 31-year-old would be hoping to make the same kind of impact donning the whites, should an opportunity arise for him next month.

The extended squad also sees Canterbury wicket-keeper Cam Fletcher and Central Stags paceman Blair Tickner retain their places. Both players were named in the squad for the South Africa series, but neither got to feature in the starting XI. Alongside the duo, opening batter Hamish Rutherford also has managed to keep his place in the squad. 

There are no other surprises in the squad, with all of Boult, Jamieson, Southee, de Grandhomme, Nicholls, Mitchell, Wagner and Blundell making it. Ajaz Patel and Rachin Ravindra are the two spin-bowling options in the squad for the Kiwis. 

This 20-member squad, however, is expected to be trimmed 15 ahead of the three Tests, the first of which begins at Lord’s on June 2.

BLACKCAPS squad for England Tour 

Kane Williamson (c) (Northern Districts)

Tom Blundell (wk) (Wellington Firebirds)

Trent Boult (Northern Districts)

Michael Bracewell (Wellington Firebirds)

Devon Conway (Wellington Firebirds)

Colin de Grandhomme (Northern Districts)

Jacob Duffy (Otago Volts)

Cameron Fletcher (Canterbury)

Matt Henry (Canterbury)

Kyle Jamieson (Auckland Aces)

Tom Latham (Canterbury)

Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury)

Henry Nicholls (Canterbury)

Ajaz Patel (Central Stags)

Rachin Ravindra (Wellington Firebirds)

Hamish Rutherford (Otago Volts)

Tim Southee (Northern Districts)

Blair Tickner (Central Stags)

Neil Wagner (Northern Districts)

Will Young (Central Stags)