Matt Fisher Earns Maiden New Zealand Call-Up for Zimbabwe Tests; Williamson, Bracewell Unavailable

Fast bowler Matt Fisher has received his maiden call-up to the New Zealand Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, set to begin later this month. The 25-year-old brings genuine pace to the squad and is seen as an exciting new addition as New Zealand continue to build depth in their pace battery.

Fisher has taken 51 wickets in 14 first-class matches at an average of 24.11. He previously featured for New Zealand A during their 2022 tour of India and was part of the 2018 U-19 World Cup squad. Currently contracted to Northern Districts, Fisher is known for regularly clocking speeds above 140kph and is expected to offer a point of difference in the absence of several first-choice quicks.

New Zealand will be without regular skipper Kane Williamson, who remains unavailable after committing to a county deal with Middlesex and the Hundred's London Spirit. Allrounder Michael Bracewell is also unavailable due to his commitments with MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC) and Southern Brave in the Hundred—a £200,000 contract that was pre-approved as part of his central contract, according to New Zealand Cricket (NZC).

Head coach Rob Walter confirmed both players had communicated their unavailability during the contracting process, noting that the non-inclusion of the Zimbabwe Tests in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) influenced selection decisions.

“While all Test matches are hugely special and important, the fact these Tests aren't part of the WTC did influence the discussions on this occasion,” Walter said.

New Zealand’s pace attack will also miss Kyle Jamieson, who is on a personal break ahead of the birth of his first child, and Ben Sears, sidelined with a side strain sustained during the MLC. Sears is expected to need two to four more weeks of rehabilitation.

In addition to Fisher, uncapped pacer Jacob Duffy has also been named in the Test squad. Duffy, already a regular in the white-ball setup, currently tops the ICC T20I bowling rankings. “Matt’s someone we’re really excited about,” Walter said. “He’s one of the fastest bowlers in the country and we think he’s got an X-factor.”

The seam attack will be led by Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke, with support from Nathan Smith.

The squad also sees the return of batter Henry Nicholls and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel. Nicholls forced his way back into contention with a prolific domestic season for Canterbury, scoring 464 runs in six innings at an average of 116 in the Plunket Shield. Patel, meanwhile, returns after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of most of the domestic season. His last Test appearance came in November 2024, when he played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s 3-0 sweep of India with an 11-wicket haul in Mumbai.

Patel will be joined by Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips in the spin department.

Devon Conway also returns to the red-ball squad, despite being dropped from the T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa. Alongside Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Phillips will join the squad after completing their MLC duties.

Tom Latham will lead the side on their first Test tour of Zimbabwe since 2016. Latham recently had a county stint with Warwickshire and will captain a squad looking to maintain New Zealand’s unbeaten record against Zimbabwe, having won 11 and drawn six of their previous Tests.

The team is set to assemble in Bulawayo on July 27, a day after the conclusion of the T20I tri-series in Harare.

New Zealand Test Squad vs Zimbabwe:
Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young