Veteran Fast Bowler Matthew Fisher Poised for ODI Debut as New Zealand Reinforces Squad for West Indies Series

Matthew Fisher is poised for his ODI debut after being included in New Zealand’s squad for the five‑match series against the West Indies, which begins on 12 July. Although he has appeared in one Test and one T20I, he has not yet earned an ODI cap. The squad is close to full strength, with regular captain Mitchell Santner returning to lead after Tom Latham guided a second‑string side to a 2‑1 defeat in Bangladesh earlier this April. Santner missed that series due to commitments in the IPL.

The squad also welcomes back several first‑choice players: batters Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman, spin‑bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell, and fast bowler Jacob Duffy, who was absent from the recent England Test series because of paternity leave. Additionally, Mitchell Hay re‑joins the squad as the backup wicket‑keeper behind Tom Latham.

Players omitted from the Bangladesh tour include Muhammad Abbas, Adi Ashok, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Will O’Rourke and Blair Tickner. Senior pacemen O’Rourke, Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry have been rested after a demanding workload during the England Test series, and Tickner is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery.

Opening batsmen Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra will miss the tour. Conway will return to England after the arrival of his second child, while Ravindra is unavailable because of his participation in Major League Cricket, as agreed with New Zealand Cricket.

The opening three ODIs will take place in Providence, Guyana, on 12, 14 and 17 July, with the final two matches scheduled for Kensington Oval in Barbados on 20 and 22 July.

New Zealand squad for ODI series in West Indies

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (wk), Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young.

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