New Zealand Test Squad for India tour announced; ace-all rounder missing

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against the India national cricket team. Opening batter Tom Latham will lead the New Zealand national cricket team after veteran pace bowler Tim Southee relinquished the captaincy of the Test team.

India will host the three-match Test series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The first Test match will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, starting on Wednesday, October 16. Pune and Mumbai will host the remaining Test matches in the series.

Tom Latham To Lead New Zealand Test Team In India Tour

Tom Latham will lead the BLACKCAPS Test team for the first time as full-time captain. Latham previously captained the team in nine Test matches between 2020 and 2022 as interim skipper of the team. Tim Southee stepped down following the national team's 0-2 loss to Sri Lanka in their recent Test series.

On Wednesday, October 9, New Zealand Cricket announced a 17-member squad. Uncapped player Mark Chapman has been included in the squad as cover for Kane Williamson, who is likely to miss the start of the series due to a groin injury. Williamson may be available for selection later in the series.

BLACKCAPS squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman (cover), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Michael Bracewell Set To Miss Last Two Matches vs India

Mark Chapman is a regular in limited-overs teams of New Zealand but is yet to make his debut in red-ball cricket for the inaugural World Test Championship winners. Allrounder Michael Bracewell will be available for the first Test match in Bengaluru before heading home for the birth of his second child.

Ish Sodhi will replace Michael Bracewell for the remaining two Test matches in the upcoming series. Ajaz Patel, who took all 10 wickets in a single innings during the 2021 Test tour, will be part of New Zealand's spin bowling attack, comprising all-rounders Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, and Rachin Ravindra.

Rangana Herath Continues His Role As spin-coach

Devon Conway, Will Young, and Daryl Mitchell will be crucial players for New Zealand in the batting lineup alongside captain Tom Latham. Tim Southee will spearhead the pace attack, which includes bowlers Matt Henry, Ben Sears, and Will O’Rourke.

Gary Stead will lead the coaching team, alongside batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Jacob Oram. Sri Lankan legend Rangana Herath will continue as spin coach for the upcoming series in India, following his recent involvement with the team during Test matches against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

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