Jacob Duffy to miss Black Caps’ tests against Ireland, England; Kyle Jamieson, Will O’Rourke return
Thursday, 7 May 2026
The Black Caps won’t have the services of their leading test bowler from last year when they face Ireland in a one-off match later this month and England in a three-match series in June.
Seamer Jacob Duffy won’t go on the tour of the United Kingdom, instead staying home in New Zealand with his wife Tash as they await the birth of their first child.
His absence will be offset by the returns of towering quicks Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke from lengthy absences resulting from stress fractures in their backs.
Jamieson has been back playing white-ball international cricket since early last year, but last played test cricket in February 2024, while O’Rourke returned to action in the ODIs in Bangladesh last month after missing the Black Caps’ last four tests.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell has stepped back from test cricket to focus on the shorter formats so with Mitchell Santner recovering from a shoulder injury, Dean Foxcroft has received his first call-up alongside Glenn Phillips.
Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner, who all finished last year on the sideline, will be joined by Jamieson, O’Rourke and Zak Foulkes in a six-man seam attack to face England at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Nottingham from June 4.
Foulkes, Henry and Jamieson are involved in the Indian Premier League, which doesn’t end until May 31, so uncapped seamer Kristian Clarke, one-cap quick Ben Sears and two-cap seamer Michael Rae will be present for the four-day test against Ireland at Stormont starting May 27.
The inclusion of six seamers for the three tests against England, as well as Sears as a travelling reserve, suggests rotation will be on the cards.
Kane Williamson will be available for all four tests, but Phillips and Rachin Ravindra are also involved in the IPL, which means Henry Nicholls is likely to bat at No 4 against Ireland and Foxcroft is a good chance to debut as the only spin option on deck.
The exact timing of the IPL players’ arrivals will be determined by when their seasons finish. The last regular season fixture is scheduled for May 25.
Will Young will also be in the squad to face Ireland, but will leave before the three tests against England.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, who usually bats at No 6, has been retained despite an extended run of poor batting form and a strong debut by Mitch Hay when Blundell was injured for the second test against the West Indies in Wellington last December.
Captain Tom Latham will serve as the back-up wicketkeeper.
Daryl Mitchell’s Pakistan Super League campaign was cut short by a calf injury but he is set to fit by the end of the month.
Santner could be considered for the second and third tests in England depending on how his recovery progresses.
The Black Caps sit second on the 2025-27 World Test Championship ladder as they embark on a stretch of 14 tests in nine months, after beating the West Indies 2-0 at home last December.
The upcoming away series will be followed by two tests at home against India in November and December, four in Australia in December and January, and two at home against Sri Lanka and two in Pakistan in the first three months of 2027.
The Black Caps will train in Lincoln for the next two weeks before leaving for the UK on May 22.
What they’ve said
Rob Walter (Black Caps coach): “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. 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”.
Walter: “It’s a great privilege to start this next period of sustained red-ball cricket with all our pace bowlers ready to go. Kyle’s been on a journey of getting his body ready for test cricket. He’s really fit and strong at the moment and will bring a unique edge to our bowling line-up. Will brings a quality set of skills and physical attributes which make him a hugely exciting addition to any test team. Ben brings height and good pace, and I love his aggression and whole-hearted approach to his bowling”.
Dean Foxcroft (uncapped all-rounder): “I was blown away. It’s quite surreal and a dream come true. From a young age you dream about playing test cricket or even just to be in a test squad – so I’m buzzing and I can’t wait”.
Squads
To face Ireland: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Dean Foxcroft, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Michael Rae, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
To face England: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson
Fixtures
May 27–30: Only test v Ireland; Stormont, Belfast
June 4–8: First test v England; Lord’s, London
June 17–21: Second test v England; The Oval, London
June 25–29: Third test v England; Trent Bridge, Nottingham