Tag: New Zealand

Nottingham Forest forward Chris Wood was named on Thursday to lead New Zealand squad at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where they will chase a first-ever win in their third tournament appearance.

Prolific striker Wood, who has scored 45 goals in 88 matches for the All Whites, will captain the lowest-ranked team at the tournament.

Wood and defender Tommy Smith are the only members of the 26-man squad who also played in their most recent World Cup appearance, in South Africa in 2010.

New Zealand drew all three matches at that tournament and failed to advance through the group phase. In their only other World Cup visit, they lost all three group matches in Spain in 1982.

The 85th-ranked New Zealand earned direct World Cup entry by winning the Oceania qualifying series in March.

“It’s been a long time, 16 years, since we’ve been in the World Cup,” Wood said via video link at the squad announcement in Auckland.

“I can’t wait to share the moment with this team and hopefully create some history. I hope that we can do everybody proud and show the world what we’re capable of.”

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Coach Darren Bazeley made one surprise selection in veteran defender Tommy Smith, who started all three matches in South Africa 16 years ago.

The 36-year-old now plays in the fifth tier of English football, for Braintree Town, but Bazeley said the former England age-group player’s wisdom would be invaluable.

“With a squad of 26, not everybody is going to play,” Bazeley said.

“So we added Tommy because his leadership is great. He’s going to be so important for the players keeping everybody on track. We’ll lean on him a lot.”

Bazeley said Wood and European-based midfielders Joe Bell, Marko Stamenic, Matt Garbett and Ryan Thomas will be key players.

Ten of the squad play in the Australian A-League competition, including eight at the league’s two New Zealand clubs, Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix.

Their first opponents in Group G are Iran in Los Angeles on June 15, before games against Egypt and Belgium.

New Zealand squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe (Millwall FC), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk), Michael Woud (Auckland FC)

Defenders: Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United FC), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham AFC), Francis de Vries (Auckland FC), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers)

Midfielders: Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets), Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matt Garbett (Peterborough United), Ben Old (AS Saint-Etienne), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Marko Stamenic (Swansea City), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle)

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Elijah Just (Motherwell FC), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg IF), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Ben Waine (Port Vale FC), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)

READ: Injured Mitoma fails to make Japan’s squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

England have dropped struggling opening batter Zak Crawley from their squad for next month’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Durham’s Emilio Gay, one of three uncapped players in a 15-man squad including Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker and Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew, is set to replace Crawley as he is a specialist opener.

Meanwhile, paceman Ollie Robinson, following a two-year exile, is back for the first of a three-Test series.

Crawley had a disappointing 2025-26 tour of Australia, scoring only 273 runs in 10 innings at an average of 27.30 during the team’s unfortunate 4-1 series loss in the Ashes.

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This season, he has also struggled to score runs for Kent in the second division of the County Championship.

This is the first time since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge of the Test team in 2022 that Crawley has been left out of a squad when available.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced on Wednesday that former Australia batsman Marcus North would be their new national selector.

North joins the ECB from county side Durham, where he has been the director of cricket since October 2018.

England Test squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wkt), Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue

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Kane Williamson will continue his pursuit of 10,000 Test runs after being named Thursday in New Zealand’s squad to play Ireland and England in May and June.

The squad features a shock omission from the England leg of the tour, Will Young left out in favour of Henry Nicholls.

The 19-man squad will play a one-off Test against Ireland starting May 27 in Belfast before a three-Test series against England starting June 4.

Williamson has 9,461 runs at an average of 54.7 in 108 Test matches, and said in December he was considering retirement.

“As you get to the latter stages (of your career) those thoughts certainly enter your mind,” said Williamson, who added his future commitment to the Black Caps would be “series by series”.

As it turns out the 35-year-old has committed to New Zealand’s next four Tests, while New Zealand will also play India at home and Australia away later in the year.

Young’s omission for the England Tests comes as a shock given he’d been the long-standing preferred back-up to New Zealand’s batting group.

With limited opportunities, Young had four 50-plus scores in his last nine Test innings, including 74 opening the batting against a fiery spell from fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani on a lively pitch against Zimbabwe.

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Nicholls, who had earned a recall after 18 months in the international wilderness, came in the next day on a then-placid pitch and scored 150 not out, but having barely faced Zimbabwe’s best bowler.

Young is part of the squad for the Ireland Test but will head home at its conclusion.

Black Caps coach Rob Walter named two potential debutants in seamer Kristian Clarke and spin-bowling all-rounder Dean Foxcroft.

“To be able to test ourselves against some of the very best Test teams in the world is an exciting challenge and with the added carrot of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship,” Walter said.

“I know it’s something the players and staff alike have been looking forward to for some time and we’re determined to meet the opportunity head on.”

New Zealand are bolstered by the return of Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, while Jacob Duffy will sit out the tour as he awaits the birth of his child.

All-rounder Michael Bracewell said he will no longer play Test cricket, instead focusing on limited-overs formats.

New Zealand Squad

Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Kristian Clarke (IRE only), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae (IRE only), Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young (IRE only).

READ: PCB confirms schedule for Australia ODI tour of Pakistan

New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner has been ruled out for at least a month after scans confirmed a grade three ACL injury in his left shoulder, dealing a significant blow to the Black Caps ahead of a busy red-ball schedule.

The 34-year-old sustained the injury while fielding for the Mumbai Indians during their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 23.

Santner was forced off the field during the match and was later replaced, with subsequent assessments confirming the extent of the injury.

He has since returned to New Zealand, where a specialist advised a period of rest and rehabilitation of at least one month.

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The recovery timeline effectively rules him out of the one-off Test against Ireland scheduled for May 27, as well as the opening Test of the three-match series against England at Lord’s starting June 4.

“The 34-year-old returned home to New Zealand this week and saw a specialist this morning who confirmed a rest and rehabilitation period of at least one month,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement.

“The diagnosis means Santner is unavailable for the one-off Test against Ireland [in late May] and the first Test against England [at Lord’s in early June], with his availability for the second and third Tests to be evaluated at a later date.”

New Zealand currently occupy second place in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and will be aiming to maintain their strong position in the ongoing cycle despite the setback.

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Najmul Hossain Shanto scored a century and Mustafizur Rahman claimed 5-43 as Bangladesh beat New Zealand by 55 runs in the third one-day international to clinch the series 2-1 on Thursday.

Shanto hit 105 off 119 balls, smacking nine fours and two sixes for his fourth ODI century to lift New Zealand from early trouble to 265-8 after being invited to bat first in Chattogram.

Mustafizur, who returned from injury after missing the first two matches, then ripped through the New Zealand batting to help bowl out the opposition for 210 in 44.5 overs.

The performance took Mustafizur’s tally to six five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket, the most by any Bangladesh bowler and level with Wasim Akram (Pakistan) and Trent Boult (New Zealand) among left-arm quicks.

Australia left-armer Mitchell Starc is top of the list on nine.

Dean Foxcroft top-scored for New Zealand with a valiant 75 off 72 balls as he hit seven sixes to extend Bangladesh’s wait for victory after the tourists slipped to 160-9.

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Nick Kelly made 59 off 80 at the top of the order.

Pace bowler Nahid Rana and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took two wickets each.

Earlier, Bangladesh slipped to 32-3 before Shanto and Litton Das steadied the innings with a 160-run stand — the highest partnership for Bangladesh against New Zealand in the 50-overs format for the fourth wicket.

Will O’Rourke was chief destroyer with the new ball, removing Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan in his opening two overs to leave Bangladesh reeling at 9-2.

Soumya Sarkar was dismissed soon after for 18, dragging one back onto his stumps off O’Rourke before Shanto and Litton hit back.

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox broke the stand by removing Litton for 76 off 91 balls, a knock laced with three fours and one six.

It was Litton’s 13th ODI half-century.

Lennox also brought an end to Shanto’s innings, having the left-hander caught by Nathan Smith.

Towhid Hridoy contributed an unbeaten 33 and captain Mehidy added 22 to ensure a challenging total.

O’Rourke was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with 3-32 while Ben Lister and Lennox took two wickets each.

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CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh have bolstered their pace attack ahead of the series-deciding third ODI against New Zealand by adding fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib to the squad.

The 23-year-old, who was sidelined during last month’s series against Pakistan due to a back injury, was initially left out of the squad for the first two matches against New Zealand.

However, with the three-match series level at 1-1 and fast bowlers playing a key role, the hosts have opted to include Tanzim in the squad for Thursday’s decider at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.

Tanzim has featured in 15 ODIs since making his debut during the 2023 Asia Cup and has claimed 24 wickets at an average of 27.29.

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His inclusion comes on the back of an impressive showing from fellow pacer Nahid Rana, who delivered a match-winning performance in the second ODI on Monday, picking up five wickets to dismantle New Zealand’s batting line-up and level the series.

New Zealand had earlier taken the lead with a 26-run victory in the opening ODI in Dhaka on April 17, before Bangladesh bounced back with a convincing six-wicket win in the second match on April 20.

Updated Bangladesh squad:

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan Sakib

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Paceman Blair Tickner took four quick wickets as New Zealand held their nerve to beat Bangladesh by 26 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match one-day international series on Friday.

Chasing 248 on a slow surface at the Mirpur stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, lost their last six wickets for just 37 runs and were bowled out for 221 off 48.3 overs.

Bangladesh were off to a shaky start after pacer Nathan Smith struck twice off consecutive deliveries in the third over, removing Tanzid Hasan Tamim (2) and Najmul Hossain Shanto for a duck.

Smith could have had another wicket when Saif Hassan edged one to first slip, but Henry Nicholls spilled a simple chance.

Saif made the most of the reprieve, scoring 57 off 76 balls for his second ODI half-century, and adding 93 runs with Litton Das to revive the innings.

Litton contributed a patient 46 off 68, but both fell at crucial moments.

Saif was caught while trying to pull Will O’Rourke, and Litton was undone by Dean Foxcroft’s turning off spin.

Towhid Hridoy kept Bangladesh in the hunt with a composed 55 off 59 balls, registering his 12th ODI half-century.

He shared a steady stand with Afif Hossain, who was out for 27 while attempting a big hit off Jayden Lennox.

With the required rate climbing, Tickner removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz before sending back Rishad Hossain and Shoriful Islam off successive balls in the 46th over.

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Tickner also got rid of Taskin Ahmed to ensure a fine win for the Kiwis with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict New Zealand to 247-8 after the visitors opted to bat first.

Shoriful impressed on his return, removing Nick Kelly early and conceding just nine runs in his opening five overs.

Shoriful was drafted in the squad at the last minute to replace Mustafizur Rahman, who has a knee injury.

Nicholls anchored the New Zealand innings with a composed 68 and shared useful stands with Will Young (30) and Tom Latham (14) before falling to Rishad Hossain, who picked up two key wickets.

Foxcroft’s aggressive 59 off 58 balls and Nathan Smith’s unbeaten 21 provided late impetus to the New Zealand innings.

READ: Australia confirm schedule for historic Bangladesh white-ball tour

DHAKA: Bangladesh have named an unchanged squad for the opening two ODI matches against New Zealand, with Peshawar Zalmi pacers Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam retaining their spots following their recent involvement in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The 15-member squad, announced by the new selection panel headed by Habibul Bashar, will continue under the leadership of Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

The selectors have opted to stick with the same group that secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over Pakistan at home last month.

The first two ODIs are scheduled to be played in Dhaka on April 17 and 20, while the third and final match will take place in Chattogram on April 23, followed by a three-match T20I series.

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In a notable move, the selectors have resisted their recent trend of rotating fast bowlers, instead backing a consistent pace attack comprising Nahid Rana, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam.

Several members of the squad are currently featuring in the PSL, underlining the growing overlap between international and franchise commitments.

Alongside Nahid and Shoriful, Rishad Hossain (Rawalpindiz), Tanzid Hasan (Peshawar Zalmi) and Mustafizur Rahman (Lahore Qalandars) are also part of the ongoing tournament.

Bangladesh squad for ODI series against New Zealand:

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das (wk), Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana.

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CHRISTCHURCH: South Africa sealed a hard-fought 3-2 T20I series victory over New Zealand after registering a convincing 33-run win in the decider at Hagley Oval on Wednesday.

Put into bat, the visitors posted a formidable 187 for four in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a dominant middle-order display led by Connor Esterhuizen, who turned the game on its head with a blistering knock.

South Africa’s innings began on a cautious note as Tony de Zorzi departed early for 12, but Wiaan Mulder and Rubin Hermann steadied things with a crucial 55-run stand.

Mulder made a composed 31 before falling in the 11th over, while Hermann followed soon after for 39, leaving the innings delicately poised.

However, Esterhuizen’s arrival shifted the momentum dramatically. The right-hander launched a counter-attack, stitching together a rapid 61-run partnership with Dian Forrester in just 27 deliveries.

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Esterhuizen was particularly destructive, smashing 75 off 33 balls, laced with five fours and six sixes, to propel South Africa to a commanding total. Forrester remained unbeaten on 21 as the visitors finished strongly.

Ben Sears was the standout performer for New Zealand with figures of 2 for 37, while Zak Foulkes and Josh Clarkson picked up a wicket each.

In reply, New Zealand never quite found the required momentum as South Africa’s bowlers maintained control throughout the chase.

Tim Robinson’s 25 and Dane Cleaver’s 22 offered some resistance, while Bevon Jacobs provided late fireworks with a quickfire 36 off 19 balls.

Captain James Neesham chipped in with 24, but the hosts ultimately fell short, finishing on 154 for eight.

South Africa’s bowling unit delivered a collective effort, with Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder and Ottniel Baartman claiming two wickets apiece, while Keshav Maharaj added one to cap off a disciplined performance.

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South Africa’s spinners played a decisive role as the tourists won the fourth Twenty20 international against New Zealand by 19 runs on Sunday to square the five-match series 2-2.

New Zealand were well placed to clinch the series midway through their chase in Wellington after the Proteas scored 164-5.

However, from 88-3 after 10 overs, they lost wickets in rapid succession to be all out for 145 off 18.5 overs.

It sends the series, played between weakened sides from both countries, to a decider in Christchurch on Wednesday.

The match swung in favour of South Africa when spinners Keshav Maharaj and Prenelan Subrayen turned the screws through the middle stages of the chase.

Captain Maharaj is comfortably the most experienced member of an experimental tour squad and proved hard to score from as he took 2-22 off four overs.

Subrayen, playing his first T20 international, bowled Dane Cleaver for 26 to spark New Zealand’s middle order crumble and finished with 2-13 off three overs.

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Maharaj said his side played with more energy than in defeats in Hamilton and Auckland.

“It was a perfect response to two disappointing losses in a row,” he said.

“Coming into this game, you could see there was a little bit more energy and hunger.

“We are a young team, finding our way in international cricket so it takes a little bit of time.”

Opener Tim Robinson top-scored with 32 for New Zealand while Proteas paceman Gerald Coetzee took 3-31.

South Africa’s innings were dominated by 57 off 36 balls from wicketkeeper Connor Esterhuizen.

He was dismissed by a spectacular outfield catch from Katene Clarke, on his international debut, off Ben Sears’ bowling.

Paceman Sears impressed, taking 1-22 off four overs, which included conceding just two runs off the last over of the innings.

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