Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand bowler Will O’Rourke Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Canterbury pace bowler Will O’Rourke returns to the Black Caps’ white-ball set-up for the upcoming tour of Bangladesh but his aim is to be playing test cricket again.
O’Rourke’s last game was for New Zealand against Zimbabwe in a test in Bulawayo in late July last year when he suffered a back stress fracture.
The 24-year-old has been named in a 15-player squad for the three ODI and three T20I series in April.
Also returning from injuries are fellow pace bowlers Matt Fisher and Blair Tickner.
O’Rourke will play the three ODIs, Fisher (shin) returns for the T20Is, and Tickner (ankle) has been named in both squads.
O’Rourke, who has played 11 tests since his debut in 2024, is hoping to get to England for the test series in July and the test series in Australia next summer.
“I obviously love the test cricket stuff, it is special to be a part of the test group,” O’Rourke said.
“It is so tough to win test games so we put a high price on that.”
He said the tour of Bangladesh will help.
“Put a decent performance out in Bangladesh and hopefully put my name forward for England.”
Head coach Rob Walter said it was pleasing to see the return of several players.
“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.”
Off-spinning allrounder Dean Foxcroft has earned his recall to the white-ball side since his most recent T20I cap in April 2024.
Test captain Tom Latham will lead the side, with regular white-ball captain Mitch Santner unavailable due to his IPL commitments.
Black Caps ODI Squad to Bangladesh
- Tom Latham (C) – Canterbury
- Muhammad Abbas – Wellington Firebirds
- Adithya Ashok – Auckland Aces
- Kristian Clarke – Northern Districts
- Josh Clarkson – Central Stags
- Dane Cleaver – Central Stags
- Dean Foxcroft – Central Stags
- Nick Kelly – Wellington Firebirds
- Jayden Lennox – Central Stags
- Henry Nicholls – Canterbury
- Will O’Rourke – Canterbury
- Ben Sears – Wellington Firebirds
- Nathan Smith – Wellington Firebirds
- Blair Tickner – Central Stags
- Will Young – Central Stags
Black Caps T20I Squad to Bangladesh
- Tom Latham (C) – Canterbury
- Katene Clarke – Northern Brave
- Kristian Clarke – Northern Brave
- Josh Clarkson – Central Stags
- Dane Cleaver – Central Stags
- Matt Fisher – Northern Brave
- Dean Foxcroft – Central Stags
- Bevon Jacobs – Auckland Aces
- Nick Kelly – Wellington Firebirds
- Jayden Lennox* – Central Stags
- Tim Robinson – Wellington Firebirds
- Ben Sears – Wellington Firebirds
- Nathan Smith – Wellington Firebirds
- Ish Sodhi – Canterbury Kings
- Blair Tickner – Central Stags
*Potential format debut
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
