Jamieson and O'Rourke return as New Zealand name Test squad for Ireland and England tours in 2026

Kane Williamson is included in New Zealand's 19-man Test squad for tours to Ireland and England in 2026.

Williamson eyes milestone return Kane Williamson will join New Zealand's 19-man Test squad for the tours to Ireland and England after previously stating he would evaluate his future after each series. Williamson, now 35, remains 539 runs away from becoming the first New Zealander to reach 10,000 Test runs. He currently serves as Lucknow Super Giants' strategic advisor during the IPL. The squad announcement follows his commitment to assess his career on a series-by-series basis. ## Duffy steps aside for family milestone Jacob Duffy will miss the tours after taking 81 wickets across formats in the previous year, breaking Sir Richard Hadlee’s calendar-year record for New Zealand bowlers. Duffy’s absence stems from personal reasons as he and his wife prepare for the birth of their first child. Rob Walter, the head coach, acknowledged Duffy’s impact but emphasized the couple’s priority during this period. He stated, 'Jake has been hugely impressive and influential across all formats, but this is a far more important period of his life coming up and we're fully supportive of him and his wife Tash.' ## Seam attack reshaped for tours The pace department will be led by Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, supported by Matt Henry, Zak Foulkes, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Sears, Michael Rae, and Kristian Clarke. Rae and Clarke are included despite limited Test experience; Rae debuted against West Indies earlier, while Clarke remains uncapped. Sears and Rae feature only in the one-off Test against Ireland, scheduled for May 27–30 in Belfast, which does not count toward the World Test Championship. ## Jamieson set for red-ball comeback Kyle Jamieson is poised to return to Test cricket for the first time since February 2024, when a back stress fracture sidelined him. He has since focused on white-ball formats for New Zealand and returned to red-ball action cautiously through the Plunket Shield. Last year, he took five wickets in 29.3 overs for Canterbury against Central Districts in Napier. Rob Walter described his potential return as bringing a 'unique edge' to the attack. ## O'Rourke rebuilds after injury layoff Will O’Rourke is also making a measured return to Test cricket after recovering from a back injury that kept him out for eight months. His comeback began with a gentle introduction in a three-day domestic fixture before facing stiffer challenges in three ODIs in hot conditions in Bangladesh. Walter praised O’Rourke’s fitness and readiness, saying, '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.' ## Sears returns for Ireland Test Ben Sears is set to play his first Test since March 2024, when he took four wickets in the final innings against Australia in Christchurch. He will feature in the one-off Test against Ireland and then serve as a traveling reserve for the England leg. Walter praised his pace, height, and aggressive bowling style, stating, 'Ben brings height and good pace, and I love his aggression and whole-hearted approach to his bowling.' ## Bracewell steps back from long format Michael Bracewell has made himself unavailable for the Ireland and England tours, choosing to focus on white-ball cricket and family time. The 35-year-old withdrew from the longest format after missing the T20 World Cup with a calf injury but has returned in the Pakistan Super League. Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra are options to provide spin if conditions favor slower bowling during the tours. ## Santner, Mitchell return timelines Mitchell Santner, currently rehabilitating a shoulder injury after returning from the IPL, may be added later to the squad. Daryl Mitchell is expected to recover from a calf injury in time for the Ireland and England Tests. Tom Blundell remains the only specialist wicketkeeper in the extended group, though captain Tom Latham can keep wickets if required. ## Nicholls, Young earn recall Henry Nicholls has returned to the squad for both tours after scoring 870 runs in 11 innings during Canterbury’s Plunket Shield-winning campaign. Will Young is included only for the Ireland leg of the tour. Dean Foxcroft earned his maiden Test call-up after strong performances in the recent white-ball series in Bangladesh. ## Foxcroft celebrates maiden call-up Dean Foxcroft expressed complete surprise at his selection, saying, 'I was blown away.' He called the opportunity surreal and a lifelong dream, adding, '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.' ## IPL and tour logistics finalized Matt Henry, Zak Foulkes, Jamieson, Ravindra, and Phillips will join the team after completing their IPL commitments. The IPL final is scheduled for May 31. The New Zealand players based locally will prepare at the NZC High Performance Centre in Lincoln before departing on May 22. The England tour begins with the first Test at Lord’s on June 4. ## Crowe-Thorpe Trophy to feature in England series The upcoming Test series against England will see the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy contested for the second time, introduced in 2024 to honor the late Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe. The 19-man squad includes Tom Latham as captain, Tom Blundell as wicketkeeper, and a mix of established and uncapped players. Kristian Clarke, Michael Rae, and Will Young are included only for specific legs of the tour. ## Full New Zealand Test squad announced Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Kristian Clarke (Ireland Test only), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae (Ireland Test only), Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (Ireland Test and travelling reserve for England Tests), Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young (Ireland Test only)