Michael Bracewell replaces injured Glenn Phillips in New Zealand Test squad vs Zimbabwe

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has replaced an injured Glenn Phillips in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming first Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo.

The New Zealand super-fit all-rounder Glenn Phillips is having a contrasting season in 2025. He was one of New Zealand's most electrifying players in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, when he turned several games in favour of the Black Caps with the bat as well as with his fielding at times.

However, Phillips was ruled out of the IPL after suffering an injury while fielding as a substitute for the Gujarat Titans. Next, he featured in the Major League Cricket for the Washington Freedom. But has now been ruled out of New Zealand's ongoing tour of Zimbabwe with a groin issue.

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Glenn Phillips replaced by Michael Bracewell for First Test

Michael Bracewell was initially unavailable for the series against Zimbabwe; however, he eventually played both the T20I tri-series and is now all set to make his return to red-ball cricket after a span of 2 years.

He was deemed unavailable due to his commitments with the Southern Brave in The Hundred's upcoming season. With the schedule allowing him to feature, Coach Rob Walter said that he is the best to replace Phillips, and hence, picking him was a straightforward decision.

"Glenn's injury provided a gap in the Test squad, and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement," Walter said. "His experience and skillset will be a great asset and allow us to keep the same balance of the team."

Michael Bracewell picked by Southern Brave in 'The Hundred 2025'

The New Zealand all-round stalwart has been an absolute star ever since his return to the New Zealand National Cricket team, after he was kept out of the field for two years due to sudden injury setbacks.

Now, after his return, Bracewell has featured largely for New Zealand in international cricket and has also managed to take up roles in franchise-level global leagues. After playing in the MLC recently, where he won the title with the MI New York, he has been picked for the upcoming season of 'The Hundred' in England.

Bracewell will return to England to be part of the Southern Brave men's team in The Hundred after the conclusion of the first Test. The decision for the second test shall be made in due course of time.

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Bracewell has been a top all-rounder since his return

The New Zealand batting all-rounder is an asset for any team, especially with his striking ability down the order, as well as his composure when he is sent up in the batting order. He has been impressive ever since his return from injury.

Having made his debut in Test cricket with a game against England in 2022, Bracewell played his last Test back in March 2023 against Sri Lanka. He has 259 Test runs and 24 wickets in the format.

This time around as well, when Bracewell played for an entire stint in the MLC with the MI New York, he showcased all-round skills with 221 runs off the bat and 4 wickets with the ball as well.