Tim Southee to lead New Zealand for Bangladesh test tour, 15-members squad

New Zealand to play a test series in Bangladesh for the first time after 2013.

New Zealand will be captained by Tim Southee on their upcoming test tour of Bangladesh, which will kick off the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 for both sides.

Earlier, New Zealand toured Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series under the captaincy of Lockie Ferguson to prepare for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and won the series 2-1. This was their first visit to Bangladesh since 2007.

This time, New Zealand will play a test series in Bangladesh for the first time in a decade. The last time Kiwis faced Tigers in whites was in 2013, and the two-match series was drawn 0-0.

A spin-heavy Blackcaps test squad has been named for a two-test series in Bangladesh beginning later this month, with the return of Kyle Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra, and Mitchell Santner. Santner returns to the side, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi will be the front-line spinners.

With spin-friendly conditions expected in Bangladesh, the squad is been selected accordingly. Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips will also boost the spin department of New Zealand team.

On the other hand, the pace attack will be helmed by captain Tim Southee, Matt Henry, and Kyle Jamieson. Jamieson makes his return to the test side after his back surgery in February. The 28-year-old pace bowler has captured 72 wickets at 19 in just 16 tests, becoming the fastest New Zealander to reach 50 test wickets in nine tests.

“We’ve selected a squad we think can compete and succeed in Bangladesh. With Ajaz, Ish, Mitch, Glenn and Rachin, we have a strong spin group that will offer good variety and options during the series. Mitch had a strong back half of the Plunket Shield campaign last summer and has made good strides in his red-ball bowling.

Rachin brings a left-arm orthodox option and has improved considerably over the past 18 months with the ball – and his performances with the bat at the World Cup speak for themselves. It’s great to be able to call upon the services of Kyle again after a period out of the team and he will bring a different dimension to the pace group,” Kiwis selector Sam Wells was quoted by nzc.nz.

New Zealand to have a new coaching staff for Bangladesh tour

Meanwhile, the management also decided to give head coach Gary Stead some rest, and New Zealand test team to Bangladesh will be coached by Luke Ronchi, Stead’s assistant. Gary Stead heads home following ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India to prepare for a busy home summer.

Ronchi’s assistants in Bangladesh will be bowling coaches Jacob Oram (pace) and Saqlain Mushtaq (spin), as well as batting coach Daniel Flynn, who joins the team for the first time.

New Zealand test squad vs Bangladesh:

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson, Will Young

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