Milne, Henry Recall: New Zealand Names Squad for T20I Tri-Series Against South Africa, Zimbabwe

Milne and Henry Back in New Zealand's Tri-Series Squad

Adam Milne and Matt Henry have been named in the New Zealand squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Matt Henry is set to make a comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury. © Getty

Bevon Jacobs, the uncapped batter who featured in the T20 series against Sri Lanka last December, also retained his place in the 15-man squad.

Milne returns to the national side for the first time since November. Henry's inclusion marks his return after a shoulder injury sidelined him since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Key Absences

Several key players are unavailable for the tri-series. Ben Sears is out due to injury, while Lockie Ferguson is being rested to manage his workload. Kyle Jamieson is also unavailable, awaiting the birth of his first child. Devon Conway and Mitch Hay are absent, with Tim Seifert slated to take over wicket-keeping duties. Kane Williamson has also made himself unavailable for selection.

Coach's Perspective

This tour marks the first assignment for new head coach Rob Walter. "I think we've got a really strong squad for this tour and I'm looking forward to getting the team together and getting into the work," he stated.

He further added, "We've got some good experience in the side and it's nice to be able to welcome back a few of the players who missed the March series against Pakistan because of the IPL."

Walter anticipates a competitive series. "It should be a great T20 Tri Series with South Africa who are a very strong side and Zimbabwe who play well at home in their own conditions," he said.

Focus on Development

Walter emphasized that this tour presents a valuable opportunity for Bevon Jacobs and that Adam Milne's experience will be crucial given the absence of other pace bowlers.

"Bevon's been an outstanding performer in domestic cricket and has gained some experience in franchise leagues around the world, so it'll be a good chance for him to get back into the squad and potentially play."

Regarding Milne, Walter commented, "Adam's a really skilled T20 bowler, he's particularly proficient with the ball up front and brings that extra pace and bounce. With the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Ben Sears and Kyle Jamieson out it's great to be able to lean on an experienced head in Adam."

World Cup Preparations

Walter highlighted the importance of the tri-series in preparing for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup next year.

"With the T20 World Cup around the corner, all of our upcoming series are critically important to our build up. This series gives us the opportunity to test the breadth of our squad, explore different players and potentially different combinations against some quality opposition," he concluded.

New Zealand Squad

Mitchell Santner (C), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchel, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi