New Zealand’s pace bowler Matt Henry is set to return to the national side for the upcoming three-match ODI series against West Indies, following his recovery from a calf strain that kept him out of the last two ODIs against England. The New Zealand squad announcement comes amid an extensive injury list, with Kane Williamson focusing on Test preparation and seven other players unavailable due to various injuries.Henry, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation, is preparing for both the ODI series and the following three-match Test series. His return strengthens New Zealand’s bowling attack as they aim to extend their impressive streak of 10 consecutive ODI series victories.
Blair Tickner, who recently earned back-to-back Player of the match awards against England, has maintained his position in the squad. The 32-year-old showcased exceptional performance by claiming eight wickets across two matches at an average of 12.25, marking his first ODI appearance for New Zealand since 2023.The New Zealand squad continues to deal with multiple injury concerns. Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring) remain unavailable for selection.“Matt is a vital member of this group and the senior leader of our pace attack, so it’ll be great to have him back around the group for the ODIs and Tests,” New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said. “He will be fresh and fit after a good rest, and we know he’ll be raring to go ahead of a big five weeks with the white and red ball.”Walter also praised Tickner’s recent performances against England. “We couldn’t have asked for more from Ticks against England,” he said. “He brought plenty of energy and his pace and bounce proved to be a big test for some of the best batters in the world. It was pleasing to see him come in at short notice and perform at that level and that’s a testament to the hard work he’s been putting in away from the group.”The ODI series begins on November 16 in Christchurch, followed by matches on November 19 in Napier and November 22 in Hamilton.New Zealand enter the series with momentum following their recent 3-0 clean sweep against England. This upcoming series presents an opportunity for New Zealand to maintain their dominant form in ODI cricket while managing their injury concerns and player rotations.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, Blair Tickner, and Will Young.
