Fisher earns maiden call-up as NZ name 16-man ODI squad for WI tour

Auckland, July 1 (IANS) New Zealand have unveiled a 16-member squad for their five-match ODI series against the West Indies, with Northern Districts fast bowler Matthew Fisher receiving his first-ever call-up in the format and Jacob Duffy returning to international cricket.

The series, which begins on July 11 in Guyana before concluding in Barbados on July 21, marks the BlackCaps’ first ODI assignment in the Caribbean since their historic series triumph there in 2022.

Fisher’s inclusion is one of the major talking points of the squad announcement. The 26-year-old pace bowler has impressed in domestic one-day cricket, collecting 43 wickets in 25 List A matches at an average of 26. While he has already represented New Zealand in a Test against Zimbabwe in August 2025 and a T20I against Bangladesh in April 2026, the upcoming tour will offer him his first opportunity in ODI cricket.

Another notable return is that of Jacob Duffy, who rejoins the national setup after missing the recent Test series in England following the birth of his first child. The reigning Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner last represented New Zealand during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final in March.

Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the side in white-ball cricket, with Tom Latham serving as the wicketkeeper. The pace attack also features Kristian Clarke, Ben Sears and Nathan Smith, while the spin department includes Michael Bracewell, Jayden Lennox and Dean Foxcroft.

Head coach Rob Walter welcomed both Fisher and Duffy into the squad, highlighting the qualities they bring ahead of the Caribbean tour.

“It’s great to have Jacob and Matt joining the group and I know they’ll bring a lot of energy and excitement,” he said.

Walter believes Fisher has earned the opportunity after consistently improving his all-round skillset.

“It’s a nice opportunity to introduce Matt to the ODI group for the first time. He bowls with good pace and has been working hard on his variations to ensure he can bowl at different stages of the innings,” he added.

The New Zealand coach also praised Duffy’s impact across formats and expressed confidence that the experienced seamer will strengthen the squad as he said, “Jacob has been a stand-out for us in all formats for the past couple of years. His skills and experience will be a great addition to our squad and I know he’s looking forward to representing New Zealand again.”

Jayden Lennox has retained his place after impressing during his debut international series against India earlier this year and will embark on his third overseas white-ball tour. Experienced campaigners Michael Bracewell and Mark Chapman further bolster the group, bringing nearly 250 international appearances between them.

Several regulars are unavailable for the tour. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke have been rested following a demanding first half of the 2026 season, while Blair Tickner will undergo scheduled ankle surgery. Devon Conway has been granted leave after the birth of his second child during the England Test series, and Rachin Ravindra will miss the tour as part of a pre-agreed arrangement with New Zealand Cricket to participate in Major League Cricket.

The ODI series opens in Guyana with matches scheduled for July 11, 13 and 16 before both teams travel to Bridgetown, Barbados, where the remaining fixtures will be played on July 19 and 21.

New Zealand ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith and Will Young.

–IANS

vi/