Nick Kelly rewarded with Black Caps call-up for ODI series against Pakistan

Wednesday, 26 March 2025

The Wellington Firebirds allrounder shows the form that earned him selection to play Pakistan, his country of birth, in the ODI series.

T20I men: New Zealand vs Pakistan. Where: Sky Stadium, Wellington. When: 7:15pm Wednesday. Coverage: Live on TVNZ, updates at Stuff.

More than 13 years after representing New Zealand at under-19 level, Nick Kelly could hardly imagine he may make his Black Caps debut on Saturday.

The Wellington Firebirds left-hander was one of two newcomers named in the squad on Tuesday for three ODIs against Pakistan, starting at Napier’s McLean Park.

The 31-year-old could have possibly considered himself an outside chance for a test call-up mid-year, when New Zealand head to Zimbabwe and may be without a number of first-choice players, as they have been for the five-match T20I series which ends in Wellington on Wednesday.

Kelly has been a standout in the Plunket Shield this season, making four centuries among his 749 runs at an average of 57.61.

But his career List A record doesn’t hint hugely at international status - 84 innings, 2632 runs at 32.90, with five tons and a strike rate of 85.04.

Nick Kelly cuts for the Wellington Firebirds during a Super Smash match against the Canterbury Kings at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, in January 2025.

However, national selection manager Sam Wells and head coach Gary Stead believe the Melbourne-born batter still has plenty to offer in the 50-over format.

“I like the way he shapes up,” Stead said.

“He gets in a fight when he's out there. He's been a very, very strong domestic player for the last couple of years and I think fully deserves his spot in the team.”

Wells added: “Nick has been the standout domestic batsman the last few seasons. He is a dynamic stroke maker with power, and he can bat anywhere in the top six.”

Stead said Kelly will bat at the top of the order against Pakistan, as the national side looks to build their depth of talent, with exciting 21-year-old allrounder Muhammad Abbas also poised to make his Black Caps debut.

Kelly made his first-class debut for Northern Districts in October 2015, but struggled for runs at first-class level before moving to Otago for the 2019/20 season. He found more consistency with the Volts, before heading to the capital in 2022, and had a brief taste of franchise T20 cricket overseas in the Caribbean Premier League in 2020 with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The ODI squad for the three-match series against Pakistan is without regular skipper Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Lockie Ferguson at the IPL. Kane Williamson is unavailable for a second successive home series, while Matt Henry is out with shoulder and knee injuries and Kyle Jamieson is rested.

Legspinner Adi Ashok may add to his solitary ODI against Bangladesh last season, with wicketkeeper/batter Tom Latham to captain the side.

Three players in the current T20 squad - Tim Seifert, Finn Allen and Jimmy Neesham - haven’t been considered for the ODI squad, with selection preference given to players on full national and domestic contracts.

Black Caps ODI squad v Pakistan

Tom Latham (capt, Canterbury), Muhammad Abbas (Wellington), Adi Ashok (Auckland), Michael Bracewell (Wellington), Mark Chapman (Auckland), Jacob Duffy (Otago), Mitch Hay (Canterbury), Nick Kelly (Wellington), Daryl Mitchell (Canterbury), Will O’Rourke (Canterbury), Ben Sears (Wellington), Nathan Smith (Wellington), Will Young (Central Districts).

Schedule

Saturday, March 29: 1st ODI at McLean Park, Napier, 11am

Wednesday, April 2: 2nd ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton, 11am

Saturday, April 5: 3rd ODI at Bay Oval, Tauranga, 11am