Photo Credit: SA20 League
Jimmy Neesham will no longer join the BLACKCAPS T20 Squad to face England following the conclusion of The Hundred and will instead return to New Zealand early to be with his wife ahead of the birth of their first child.
Neesham was due to head to home after the series but a decision has been made for him to return early.
Canterbury’s Cole McConchie was due to travel home following the warm-up matches in England but will now stay on with the squad in England for the duration of the T20 Series.
BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said it was important to be flexible at these times.
“We fully support Jimmy’s decision to return home early to be with Alex.”
“The birth of a child is a special time and we are a family environment. We are glad to be able to support Jimmy in heading home.”
Stead said McConchie would bring his strong all-round skills to the squad.
“Cole has impressed us this year when he’s been given opportunities in international cricket and offers any squad options with bat and bowl while also being a strong fielder.”
The first T20I against England is 6pm Wednesday (5am Thursday NZT) at Riverside, Chester-le-Street.
Revised BLACKCAPS England T20 Squad
Tim Southee (c)
Finn Allen
Mark Chapman
Devon Conway
Lockie Ferguson
Matt Henry
Kyle Jamieson
Cole McConchie
Adam Milne
Daryl Mitchell
Glenn Phillips
Rachin Ravindra
Mitchell Santner
Tim Seifert
Ish Sodhi
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
