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Sport Nation
Important SN update for SouthlandJacobs, Milne return to Blackcaps for T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe
Sport Nation • June 27th, 2025 6:00 am
Photo: DJ Mills/Photosport
Batter Bevon Jacobs is poised to make his Blackcaps debut after being named in the squad for July's tri-series with South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe.
Jacobs is the only uncapped player in the 15-strong squad named by Rob Walter - the first of his tenure as the new head coach, having taken the reins from Gary Stead.
The Auckland Aces masterblaster - who recently had a stint with the IPL's Mumbai Indians - was selected for the series against Sri Lanka in December but wasn't able to force his way into a matchday XI.
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Also back in the squad is seamer Adam Milne. The veteran of 53 T20 internationals has been plying his trade in the US with Texas Super Kings, but hasn't featured for the Blackcaps since November.
Milne joins a pace quartet that includes the ICC’s No. 1 ranked T20I bowler Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, and Zak Foulkes.
Henry is set to be back in black after a shoulder injury kept him sidelined from international cricket following the Champions Trophy.
Pace bowlers unavailable for selection for this tour were Ben Sears (side injury), Lockie Ferguson (load management), and Kyle Jamieson - who is awaiting the birth of his first child.
Kane Williamson wasn’t included after making himself unavailable for selection.
Walters said he was excited by his first assignment with the Blackcaps.
“I think we’ve got a really strong squad for this tour and I’m looking forward to getting the team together and getting into the work,” he said.
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“We’ve got some good experience in the side and it’s nice to be able to welcome back a few of the players who missed the March series against Pakistan because of the IPL.
“It should be a great T20 Tri Series with South Africa who are a very strong side and Zimbabwe who play well at home in their own conditions.”
He will be joined by batting coach Luke Ronchi, bowling coach Jake Oram, and James Foster who rejoins the group as a fourth coach.
“With the T20 World Cup around the corner, 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, explore different players and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition.”
BLACKCAPS T20 Tri-Series squad
Mitch 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
*denotes debutant
