Will O’Rourke back in Black Caps ODI squad, aiming for test series versus England in June
Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Will O’Rourke is back in black - and his big goal is to don the whites in England.
The fast bowler will make his return to international cricket with the New Zealand ODI squad for the tour of Bangladesh in April.
The 24-year-old suffered a back stress fracture during the first test versus Zimbabwe at the end of July last year, but is hopeful he’ll be back in test cricket in June for a three-test series in England - which will be preceded by a four-day test versus Ireland.
“Test cricket is the focal point of my game at the moment,” O’Rourke said on Monday.
“First of all, put a decent performance out in Bangladesh and hopefully push my name forward to England, and then the rest of the season hopefully takes care of itself.”
New Zealand will also play two tests at home to India in November, followed by a four-test series in Australia. The Black Caps will also be optimistic they’ll have the services of fast bowler Kyle Jamieson for the tests versus Ireland and England after 28 months away from the format.
O’Rourke said he’s been bowling off the long run for a few months and hasn’t had any setbacks.
He’ll be joined by fellow pace bowlers Matt Fisher and Blair Tickner in 15-man squads for the white-ball series in Bangladesh.
Fisher, who has been sidelined with a shin injury, returns for the T20Is, while Tickner (ankle) is in both squads.
“Will, Blair and Matt have been working very hard over the past few months to get themselves back on the park and back in contention for selection and we’re pleased to welcome them back into the group,” said Black Caps coach Rob Walter.
“With the amount of cricket being played in the modern game, having depth in our bowling stocks is key. Having players of this quality come back is great for our side.”
O’Rourke has an excellent test record from just 11 tests, taking 39 wickets at an average of 24.28, at a strike rate of 40.
That includes bowling just six overs in the second and third tests on spin-friendly pitches during the stunning 3-0 series clean sweep over India, after returning match figures of 7-114 in the first-test victory.
Off-spinning allrounder Dean Foxcroft (Central Districts) has earned a white-ball recall to the Black Caps after his most recent appearance came in a T20I in April 2024. He was the fourth-highest run scorer in the Ford Trophy this season.
Test captain Tom Latham will lead the side, with regular white-ball captain Mitch Santner playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Meanwhile, nine players with international experience have been named across the New Zealand A squads to tour Sri Lanka, with three one-day matches and two four-day games in April.
Black Caps ODI squad to Bangladesh
Tom Latham (captain, wk), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
Black Caps T20I squad to Bangladesh
Latham (captain, wk), Katene Clarke, Kristian Clarke, Clarkson, Cleaver (wk), Matt Fisher, Foxcroft, Bevon Jacobs, Kelly, Lennox, Tim Robinson, Sears, Smith, Ish Sodhi, Tickner.
Schedule
April 17: 1st ODI at Mirpur, 8pm (NZT)
April 20: 2nd ODI at Mirpur, 8pm
April 23: 3rd ODI at Chattogram, 8pm
April 28: 1st T20I at Chattogram, 12am
April 30: 2nd T20I at Chattogram, 12am
May 2: 3rd T20I at Mirpur, 8pm