For Afghanistan, Sri Lanka Tests New Zealand Include William O’Rourke, Ben Sears
On Monday New Zealand included promising seamers Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears in their Test squad to face Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as the Black Caps look to bounce back from their T20 World Cup debacle. Kiwis will face Afghanistan next month in a one-off Test in Noida, India, before facing Sri Lanka away in a two-Test series in late September. It will be the first cricket for black caps since crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages last June following a shock defeat to Afghanistan.
O’Rourke and Sears are set to play their first overseas Tests. O’Rourke took nine wickets for 93 on his debut against South Africa in February. Searsdebuted in March with five wickets in a defeat to Australia.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said, “It’s always great when young guys force their way into squads through performance.”
“I know Will and Ben are really looking forward to the challenges of Test cricket in the sub-continent,” he said in a statement.
All-rounder Michael Bracewell returns to the Test squad for the first time since injuring his Achilles tendon, then breaking a finger.