Bevon Jacobs Earns Maiden Call-Up for New Zealand’s T20I Series Against Sri Lanka
Auckland Aces’ rising star, Bevon Jacobs, has received his first-ever call-up to the New Zealand squad for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, set to begin on December 28. The powerful hitter, who recently joined the Mumbai Indians in the IPL mega auction, made an immediate impact in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka on December 23, smashing a quickfire 39 off just 16 balls for New Zealand XI.
Jacobs’ inclusion comes after a stellar domestic season, where he impressed in the Super Smash T20 tournament, scoring 134 runs in six innings at an explosive strike rate of 188.73 as a finisher for Canterbury Kings. New Zealand selectors are excited about Jacobs' potential, with Sam Wells saying, "He's a promising player with a lot of talent and we're looking forward to exposing him to international cricket. His power with the bat is evident, and he’s shown good technique in longer formats."
Alongside Jacobs, three other key players—Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry—return to the squad after missing last month’s tour of Sri Lanka. This will be Mitchell Santner's first series as New Zealand’s full-time white-ball captain, with the squad gearing up for a busy calendar that includes three T20Is and three ODIs. The ODI series in January 2025 will serve as the final opportunity for New Zealand to finalize their squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The squad also sees the return of some exciting talent. Zac Foulkes, Mitch Hay, and Tim Robinson, who made their white-ball debuts earlier this year, will play their first home series. Hay, who made waves during the Sri Lanka tour with a record-breaking five dismissals in one T20I, will be keeping wickets in the T20Is and serves as backup for Tom Latham in the ODIs.
The T20I squad will also feature Will O’Rourke, who is rested from the T20Is to manage his workload after an intense period of Tests. O'Rourke will join the team for the ODI series along with Latham and Will Young, who replace Jacobs, Foulkes, and Robinson for the 50-over matches.
New Zealand will be led by former wicketkeeper-batter Luke Ronchi, who steps in as head coach for this series with Gary Stead taking a break after a busy period in charge.
New Zealand Squad:
