Katene Clarke in line for debut in reshuffled Black Caps T20I squad against South Africa

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

Katene Clarke of Northern Brave hammers another to the rope against Auckland Aces in the T20 Super Smash.

Northern Brave’s Katene Clarke is the latest power hitting opener to be elevated to the Black Caps, in a reshuffled lineup to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting on Sunday.

Clarke is the only uncapped player included in an extended 18-man squad, and will play games four and five in Wellington and Christchurch. Wellington Firebirds batter Nick Kelly and Central Stags spin bowler Jayden Lennox are others in line for their T20I debuts, having already played ODIs.

The series - which features five South Africa double-headers with the White Ferns - opens at Bay Oval, Tauranga, on Sunday afternoon.

The 26-year-old Clarke was the standout batter in Northern’s charge to the men’s Super Smash title in January, topping the run charts with 431 at a blistering strike rate of 172. A highlight was his 54-ball unbeaten century against the Volts, which he raised with a six off the final delivery of the innings.

Clarke will likely partner Tim Robinson at the top in the final two matches, after Devon Conway plays the first three and T20 World Cup frontliners Finn Allen and Tim Seifert sit out the series ahead of the Indian Premier League starting on March 28.

“He's an explosive player who possesses plenty of power and a variety of shots. He’s shown destructive ability inside the power play, but also crucially the ability to bat deep in an innings too,” selector Gavin Larsen said of Clarke.

Eight members of the Black Caps T20 World Cup squad who lost the final to India will play some or all of the series. Captain Mitchell Santner, Conway and Lockie Ferguson depart after game three while Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi will be available for all five.

Tom Latham takes over the captaincy from Santner for games four and five, while Central Stags wicketkeeper/batter Dane Cleaver joins the squad for the final two, having last worn the black cap in 2023. Stags allrounder Josh Clarkson is also back for the first time since 2024.

Allen, Seifert, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra will miss the series to rest and freshen up after India, alongside Matt Henry who will also take some time to spend with his new baby.

Michael Bracewell (calf), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O'Rourke (back) and Blair Tickner (ankle) were not considered due to injury.

The series signals a transition to the big T20 franchise leagues, with 12 New Zealanders off to the IPL: Allen, Seifert, Ravindra, Duffy, Jamieson, Henry, Zak Foulkes, Ferguson, Phillips, Santner, Milne and Trent Boult.

Mitchell, Chapman, Bracewell and Bevon Jacobs are bound for the Pakistan Super League which is scheduled to start on March 26.

Sophie Devine is back in the White Ferns for the first time since the Women’s World Cup last October.

Larsen said the upcoming series was a chance for players to stake a claim for selection in the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in October-November 2028.

In contrast, the White Ferns will be near full strength with the returns of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer.

Openers Bates (torn quad) and Plimmer (shoulder) have recovered from their injuries and were named in a 15-woman squad also including former captain Devine who will play her first White Ferns match since the Women’s World Cup in October.

Central Hinds allrounder Flora Devonshire (broken finger) also returns from injury and with veteran pace bowler Lea Tahuhu will play the final three matches. Left-armer Bree Illing and wicketkeeper Polly Inglis will join the squad for the first two matches only.

New Zealand squads for T20Is against South Africa

Black Caps: Mitchell Santner (capt, games 1-3), Katene Clarke (4-5), Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (4-5), Devon Conway (1-3), Lockie Ferguson (2-3), Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (capt, 4-5), Jayden Lennox (4-5), Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.

White Ferns: Melie Kerr (capt), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire (3-5), Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing (1-2), Polly Inglis (1-2), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu (3-5).

Schedule

Sun Mar 15: Game one at Bay Oval, Tauranga, 2.45pm (women) and 7.15pm (men)

Tue Mar 17: Game two at Seddon Park, Hamilton, 2.45pm/7.15pm

Fri Mar 20: Game three at Eden Park, Auckland, 2.45pm/7.15pm

Sun Mar 22: Game four at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, 2.45pm/7.15pm

Wed Mar 25: Game five at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 2.45pm/7.15pm