The New Zealand Cricket Board has announced that all-rounder Mitchell Santner would captain the New Zealand T20I team for the three-match series against India commencing later this month, which will also include uncapped left-arm swing bowler Ben Lister. Nine or more of the squad’s 15 players competed in Australia’s T20 World Cup, when they lost to Pakistan in the semifinal. Since Kane Williamson elected to resign as T20I captain after the World Cup, his absence from the squad suggests that New Zealand has also made the decision to follow India’s lead and develop a new core in preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Williamson is a member of the ODI team that will face India in three games beginning on January 18.
Lister, who plays domestic cricket for the Auckland Aces in New Zealand, might make his international debut in the Ranchi series opener. He was chosen after he received his New Zealand made his debut in India late last year and was voted Auckland Cricket’s Men’s Bowler of the Year the previous campaign. The 27-year-visit old’s with the New Zealand A team to India was cut short after he developed pneumonia in Bangalore. He spent some time in the hospital as a result of the infection before going back to New Zealand to continue his treatment.
Our T20 Squad to face India in 3 T20Is starting later this month in Ranchi! Congratulations to @aucklandcricket‘s Ben Lister and @CanterburyCrick‘s Henry Shipley on being selected in a BLACKCAPS T20 Squad for the first time. More | https://t.co/bwMhO2Zb76 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/jFpWbGPtGx
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 12, 2023
Henry Shipley of the Canterbury Kings, who recently made his international debut during the team’s current ODI Series against Pakistan, is another newcomer. Additionally, Otago Volts leg-spinning all-rounder Michael Rippon makes his first appearance in a New Zealand squad since making his debut against Scotland on the European Tour last year.
Gavin Larsen, the head selector, said Lister had impressed him with his versatility of abilities across the forms. “Ben has made an exciting impact for Auckland early in his career in red and white ball cricket. Since his debut in late 2017, he is the Aces’ leading wicket-taker in T20 and List A cricket.” “His ability to swing the ball considerably as a left-armer is particularly exciting.” “We all felt for Ben after his tour ended the way it did last year, and it’s a testament to his work ethic that he’s been able to return to domestic cricket so strongly this season.”
Here’s New Zealand T20 squad for India series: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Dane Cleaver, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rippon, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner.