New Zealand’s plans for the upcoming ODI tour of the West Indies have hit a snag. Fast bowler Ben Sears has been sidelined from the five-match series due to an ankle injury that just wouldn’t heal. Sears, who is one of New Zealand’s key pace bowlers, has been dealing with this issue since the four-day Test against Ireland, but it took a turn for the worse on the final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge. As a precaution, New Zealand Cricket has decided to send him home for treatment. The ODI series kicks off on July 11 in Guyana, where the first three matches will take place, and in his place, left-arm seamer Ben Lister has been called up.
To bolster the pace attack, selectors have turned to 30-year-old Ben Lister. The Auckland Aces fast bowler has made four ODI appearances for New Zealand, with his last outing being in the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this year. He played in one match during that tour, where he recorded figures of 2 for 62 in the third ODI at Chattogram. Lister is set to join the squad in Guyana ahead of the series.
New Zealand Face Fast-Bowling Concerns Ahead of West Indies Tour
Sears’ exit adds to the growing list of fast bowlers unavailable for New Zealand. Blair Tickner is sidelined after being scheduled for ankle surgery, while Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, and Will O’Rourke are taking a break after their heavy workloads in the recent Test series against England. On a brighter note, Jacob Duffy is back after missing the England Tests due to paternity leave. Nathan Smith, Matthew Fisher, and Kristian Clarke will also join the pace attack, with Mitchell Santner at the helm, supported by spin options Michael Bracewell and Jayden Lennox.
New Zealand’s updated squad for the ODI series features Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Hay, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham, Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Nathan Smith, and Will Young. This squad strikes a balance between seasoned players and fresh talent as the team navigates the workload of several senior bowlers.
The five-match ODI series starts in Providence, Guyana, with games set for July 11, July 13, and July 16. The final two matches will shift to Kensington Oval in Barbados on July 19 and July 21. New Zealand heads into the series with a boost of confidence after making history on their last ODI tour of the Caribbean in 2022, where they clinched their first-ever ODI series win in the West Indies. Despite the changes in the bowling lineup, the visitors are determined to keep that winning streak alive, even in tough conditions.
