New Zealand ODI Squad For West Indies Announced; Matthew Fisher Earns Maiden Call-Up

New Zealand Squad [Source: AFP]In a significant development, New Zealand Cricket has announced a 16-member squad for its five-match tour of the West Indies, which will begin on July 11 in Guyana. Notably, Mitchell Santner will lead the side throughout the Caribbean tour. Meanwhile, one of the biggest talking points is the inclusion of fast bowler Matthew Fisher, who has received his maiden ODI call-up.New Zealand's Pace Department Hit By Rest And InjuryHowever, several key fast bowlers will miss the tour. Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, and Will O’Rourke have been rested as part of workload management. In addition, Blair Tickner is unavailable after undergoing ankle surgery.Another major development is the return of Jacob Duffy to the New Zealand ODI squad. The right-arm pacer has not played international cricket since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year. Recently, Duffy took a short break after welcoming his first child, and now he is back in national colours.Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra Unavailable For West Indies ODI SeriesFurthermore, Devon Conway will miss the series because of family reasons. At the same time, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has been granted time off to take part in the Major League Cricket (MLC 2026).On the other hand, Kristian Clarke, Ben Sears and Nathan Smith will lead New Zealand's pace attack during the series. Mitchell Santner will head the spin department, with support from Michael Bracewell, Jayden Lennox, and Dean Foxcroft. In addition, experienced batter Tom Latham has been named as the team's wicketkeeper.Also Read: IND Vs ENG Head To Head Records- 1st T20I, India Tour Of England 2026New Zealand Head Coach Eyes World Cup PreparationsMeanwhile, New Zealand head coach Rob Walter believes this tour will play a key role in building the team ahead of next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which will be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Rob Walter is especially excited to see what both Duffy and Fisher can bring to the New Zealand ODI squad during West Indies tour.“It’s great to have Jacob and Matt joining the group and I know they’ll bring a lot of energy and excitement,” he said.“It’s a nice opportunity to introduce Matt to the ODI group for the first time. He bowls with good pace and has been working hard on his variations to ensure he can bowl at different stages of the innings.“Jacob has been a stand-out for us in all formats for the past couple of years. His skills and experience will be a great addition to our squad and I know he’s looking forward to representing New Zealand again.”Notably, the five-match ODI series will begin with the first ODI on July 11 at the Guyana National Stadium in Guyana. The 2nd and 3rd matches will also be played at the same venue on July 13 and July 16, respectively.After that, the caravan will shift to the Kensington Oval in Barbados, where 4th ODI is scheduled for July 19, followed by 5th and final match on July 21.New Zealand ODI Squad For West IndiesMitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young Also Read: IND Vs ENG Head To Head Records- 1st T20I, India Tour Of England 2026