Kiwi Star Kane Williamson and All-Rounder Nathan Smith Return to NZ ODI Squad for England Series
WELLINGTON: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the return of kiwis Top class batter Kane Williamson and all-rounder Nathan Smith to the Black Caps’ 14-man squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series which to be played against England in 2025. 1st odi starts on October 26.
Williamson, who is 35 year old, is making his long-awaited comeback to the international side after recovering from a minor medical issue that had sidelined him for the past month, causing him to miss the preceding T20I series against England. This series will mark his first appearance for the national team since the Champions Trophy final loss to India in March.
All-rounder Nathan Smith, 27, is also back in the squad after successfully rehabilitating an abdominal injury he sustained during a Test match against Zimbabwe in August.
Head coach Rob Walter welcomed the duo back, stating, “Kane and Nathan have had to work hard to overcome their respective injuries and illness.” He added that having Williamson’s “skill, experience, and leadership back in the group is fantastic,” while Smith has impressed with his all-round ability.
Mitchell Santner will lead the side, which also sees the return of wicket-keeper batsman Tom Latham. However, the Black Caps will be still without their key players due to injury, including Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, and Ben Sears.
The ODI series, which starts in Tauranga, is considered the beginning of the team’s preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa in 2027.
New Zealand ODI Squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
