Dean Foxcroft's shock Test call-up for New Zealand tours in 2026

Uncapped allrounder Dean Foxcroft earned a surprise Test debut spot for New Zealand's tours to Ireland and England.

Who is Dean Foxcroft Dean Foxcroft, a South African-born New Zealand batter who also bowls offspin at a brisk pace, was named in the Black Caps' Test squad for upcoming fixtures in Ireland and England. The 28-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last month, had long been on the radar for the national selectors, though even he admitted being stunned by the call-up. While his primary strength lies in limited-overs cricket—including stints in overseas leagues—he has shown consistent performances for Central Districts after earlier representing Otago. Across five appearances for New Zealand A, he compiled 292 runs at 32.44, adding two wickets to his tally. ## Notable performances for New Zealand A In 2023, Foxcroft struck 97 off 150 deliveries from the number three slot against Australia A, featuring bowlers Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Mitch Swepson, setting up a successful chase of 365 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln. During the most recent Plunket Shield season, he tallied 407 runs across 14 innings, averaging 33.91, while contributing 45 overs with the ball without claiming a wicket. His domestic consistency became impossible to ignore after Michael Bracewell’s departure from Test cricket freed up a squad place. ## International background and early cricket Born in Pretoria, Foxcroft represented South Africa at Under-19 level in the 2016 World Cup in Bangladesh, where he faced New Zealand’s young team and struck a match-winning hundred against an attack that included Rachin Ravindra. His move to New Zealand later that year introduced him to a new cricketing environment, and he eventually settled in the country after playing for Hawke’s Bay in representative cricket. He made his senior domestic debut for Central Districts across formats in 2018. ## Two-year absence due to COVID-19 Foxcroft transferred to Otago the following year, but his progress stalled when pandemic border closures barred him from returning to New Zealand for two consecutive domestic seasons. He had traveled to Pretoria in March 2020 for a six-week family visit and exams, only for global travel restrictions to trap him overseas for two years. The enforced absence nearly made him reconsider his New Zealand ambitions before he finally returned ahead of the 2022-23 domestic campaign. ## Keeping skills sharp overseas Despite being unable to play in New Zealand for two years, Foxcroft stayed active in cricket through participation in the Oman D10 league and the Pakistan Super League, winning the latter with Lahore Qalandars as a standby player in 2022. ## Recent form in ODI series Foxcroft topped New Zealand’s run-scoring charts alongside Nick Kelly in the recent ODI series in Bangladesh, accumulating 149 runs in three innings at an average nearing 50 and a strike rate of 90.30. His unbeaten 59 off 58 balls from number six and the dismissal of Litton Das proved pivotal in guiding New Zealand to victory in the opening ODI in Mirpur. The performance marked him as one of the standout performers from the tour, stepping into the spotlight while senior players were absent competing in the PSL or IPL.