NZ announce 15-member squad for 2024 T20 WC, Conway picked

NZ announce 15-member squad for 2024 T20 WC, Conway picked
29 Apr 2024

New Zealand have confirmed their 15-member squad for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, starting on June 1.

While Kane Williamson will lead the team once again, pacer Matt Henry is set to play his maiden T20 WC in a decade-long international career.

Devon Conway, who is currently recovering from a thumb injury, has also been selected.

Here are further details.

Henry picked as Milne misses out
Pacers

Adam Milne's unavailability due to an ankle injury meant the selectors went with Henry, who made a T20I comeback last year after a six-year long gap.

His stocks in the format have improved lately.

Veterans Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson are the other specialist pacers in the squad.

Southee and Boult will be playing their seventh and fifth T20 WC, respectively.

Conway makes the cut
Top-order

Conway is likely to take the gloves ahead of Finn Allen in the tournament.

Notably, the former was ruled out of the ongoing 2024 IPL due to a thumb injury.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra is the other top-order batter in the squad, though his stats in his 20-T20I career aren't much impressive.

He, however, has made a significant mark in the other two formats.

Here are the other all-rounders
All-rounders

Besides Ravindra, NZ have gone with Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Mark Chapman as the other spin-bowling all-rounders in the squad.

Bracewell recently led NZ's second-string team to a 2-2 draw in the T20I series in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Neesham and Daryl Mitchell are the pace-bowling all-rounders.

Ish Sodhi is the lone specialist spinner.

A look at NZ's T20 WC squad
Squad

Squad: Kane Williamson(c), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee [Ben Sears - Travelling Reserve].

Notably, NZ will open their account against Afghanistan in Guyana on June 7.

The tournament will be co-hosted by West Indies and USA.