Bolt returns to New Zealand team for Australia T20; Williamson on paternity leave – Dainik Savera Times

Josh Clarkson and Rachin Ravindra have been selected in the Mitchell Santner-led squad to face Australia next week. Boult, who is set to play his first T20 match since November 2022, has been selected for the second and third T20 matches, as Test captain Tim Southee will play in the first match and then resume his duties between the South Africa and Australia Test series. Will rest for the rest of the series to manage that.

With Daryl Mitchell out with a leg injury and Kane Williamson on paternity leave, Clarkson, uncapped in T20s, and rising star Rachin Ravindra, fresh from his successful return to the Test arena against South Africa, have been brought into the squad. Selector Sam Wells said the unavailability of Williamson and Mitchell presented opportunities for others.

‘Missing your two best players for such a big series is never ideal, but in saying that, we have a lot of confidence in the guys coming in,’ Wells said. “Josh and Rachin have both been in our white ball squad this summer and it will be really exciting for them to now get this opportunity.”

“The rest of the T20 squad is the same as the one that beat Pakistan 4-1 in January, with only Ben Sears making way for Lockie Ferguson,” New Zealand Cricket said in a release in Wellington on Monday. Jimmy Neesham was not available for selection while Michael Bracewell is still out with a finger injury.

New Zealand T20 team: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Trent Boult (matches 2 and 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk) , Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (Match 1)