Dean Foxcroft and Adithya Ashok have been selected for the first time to represent the senior New Zealand men’s squad in the upcoming three-match T20I series against UAE. The series is set to take place in Dubai from August 17 to 20. Notably, the squad also marks the return of Kyle Jamieson, who has been on the sidelines since undergoing back surgery in February.
New Zealand is heading to the UAE with a slightly less experienced squad, as regular players Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Ish Sodhi are not part of the lineup.
Upon concluding the UAE tour, New Zealand will witness the return of several players, including Foxcroft, Ashok, and five others, as they head to England for a four-match T20I series scheduled from August 30 to September 5.
Alongside them, Chad Bowes, Dane Cleaver, Cole McConchie, Henry Shipley, and Will Young will also travel to England. Although they won’t be part of the T20I squad, they will be in contention for the two warm-up T20 matches against Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
According to the NZC release unveiling the squads, allrounders James Neesham and Mitchell Santner have secured short-term contracts that will allow them to participate in The Hundred’s closing stages in the UK between the UAE and the England T20Is. Unfortunately, Kane Williamson (knee) and Michael Bracewell (achilles), both recovering from injuries, were not available for selection.
Foxcroft, a 25-year-old batting allrounder known for his offspin bowling, was recognized as the domestic player of the year at the NZC awards in March. He showcased his prowess in the Super Smash T20 competition, emerging as the top run-scorer for Otago with 424 runs at an average of 47.11 and a strike rate of 131.26, in addition to taking nine wickets at an economy rate of 7.15.
Foxcroft also displayed his skills in the Plunket Shield first-class competition, leading Otago’s batting charts with 631 runs at 45.07, and contributing with seven wickets at 29.71.
Ashok, a talented 20-year-old legspinner, made his mark during the 2022-23 season. He earned his first-class debut and made an immediate impact for Auckland in the Plunket Shield, claiming 19 wickets at an average of 27.84.
Notably, Ashok was previously part of New Zealand’s squad at the Under-19 World Cup, displaying his potential on the international stage. Both Foxcroft and Ashok also featured in the New Zealand A squad that engaged in two first-class matches against Australia A in Lincoln this past April.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead expressed his excitement in welcoming new players to the BlackCaps squad, particularly when they are young talents like Adi and Dean.
Stead highlighted Dean’s consistent and impressive performances in domestic cricket, which earned him recognition at the awards ceremony in March. He praised Dean’s batting skills and adaptability, along with his valuable offspin bowling, which will strengthen the team’s spin options in white-ball cricket.
Stead also commended Kyle Jamieson’s hard work and progress, which allowed him to be included in New Zealand men’s squad After a challenging year, the team is thrilled to see Kyle make a comeback. Stead acknowledged Jamieson’s world-class skills and mentioned his enthusiasm to reunite with the group of players for the series ahead.
