Kane Williamson Misses Zimbabwe Tour as New Zealand Build for Future
New Zealand have named their T20I squad for the upcoming tri-series in Zimbabwe without star batter Kane Williamson, while veteran pacer Adam Milne returns from injury and uncapped Bevon Jacobs earns his maiden call-up.
The 15-member squad under Mitchell Santner’s captaincy will face South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe from July 16, marking new head coach Rob Walter’s first assignment as he begins preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Notable Absentees Signal Fresh Approach
Williamson, currently playing county cricket with Middlesex ahead of the Hundred, made himself unavailable for the tour. Lockie Ferguson has been rested for workload management, while Kyle Jamieson awaits the birth of his first child. Ben Sears misses out with a side injury, and surprisingly, Devon Conway found no place in the squad.
The absences open doors for fresh faces as Walter looks to “explore different players and combinations” in his new role. The former South Africa coach, appointed across all formats earlier this month, will work alongside assistants Luke Ronchi, Jake Oram and James Foster.
Milne’s Experience Meets Jacobs’ Potential
Adam Milne’s return adds crucial experience to the pace attack. The 32-year-old last played internationally in February 2024, missing the previous T20 World Cup after ankle surgery. His impressive form in Major League Cricket – nine wickets in four games for Texas Super Kings – earned him a recall.
Adam’s a really skilled T20 bowler, particularly proficient with the ball up front and brings that extra pace and bounce. With Ferguson, Sears and Jamieson out, it’s great to lean on an experienced head.
The exciting inclusion is 26-year-old Bevon Jacobs, who caught selectors’ eyes with his power-hitting ability. Standing over six feet tall, the Auckland batter uses his reach to dominate bowlers and clear boundaries with ease. His surprise IPL selection by Mumbai Indians, followed by stints in the ILT20 and CPL, has given him valuable franchise experience.
The IPL was an amazing experience. I got three months there to learn new facets of my game. There’s players with crazy amounts of knowledge there. Hopefully, I can bring what I’ve learnt into the series.
Born in Pretoria, Jacobs moved to New Zealand aged three and could make his international debut against his birth country when the Black Caps face South Africa in their tournament opener on July 16.
The squad sees several IPL players return, including Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and captain Santner, who missed the March series against Pakistan due to franchise commitments. Their inclusion strengthens a batting lineup that already features Finn Allen, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell.
With an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Walter views this tri-series as crucial preparation. “All of our upcoming series are critically important to our build-up. This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad against quality opposition,” he said.
The tournament presents unique scheduling challenges, with New Zealand’s first match just two days after the MLC final. NZC has confirmed replacement players will be named if squad members cannot arrive in time due to franchise commitments.
After the T20Is, New Zealand will remain in Zimbabwe for a two-Test series in Bulawayo, continuing their busy international calendar under new leadership.
New Zealand T20I Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
