NZ split ODI squads for India series as Rob Walter details Finn Allen's new role
New Zealand have split their squad for the five-match ODI series against India, which begins on November 4, to balance Test preparations and evaluate options ahead of the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, head coach Rob Walter said.
Several Test specialists will leave after the first three ODIs to prepare for the two-Test series against India, the first of which starts at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on November 19. Only six players have been picked for all five ODIs: Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Will Young and Blair Tickner. "Obviously every Test match is important for us in terms of championship points, which is why we're extracting some of that squad early for additional preparation before the first Test against India at the Basin Reserve on November 19," Walter said.
New Zealand’s selections for the split ODI squad are as follows: FIRST THREE ODIs: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner and Will Young. FOURTH AND FIFTH ODIs: Mitchell Santner (captain), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Kristian Clarke, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Lockie Ferguson, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Nick Kelly, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Blair Tickner and Will Young. Walter said the changes would allow New Zealand to test their squad depth against India, with seven players joining for the final two ODIs.
One of the main talking points is Finn Allen’s recall and a proposed change to his batting position. "We've got a different role in mind for Finn in the middle order. So we want to explore that as an option, obviously given his capability to influence the game," Walter said. The coaching group is considering using Allen against spinners and as a middle-overs option to take on the fifth or sixth bowler.
Walter expanded on the rationale for experimenting with Allen’s position in 50-over cricket: "In 50-over cricket, there's a space in the middle of the game to take on the spinners or the fifth or sixth bowler. So, we'll explore that with Finn." The staff discussed the idea before recent high-scoring matches and view the India series as an opportunity to trial it in match conditions.
"We actually want to see what it looks like to have someone in the middle order just taking on the game," Walter said, adding: "There's a shift in 50-over cricket, especially if the surfaces are good, where overs 25 to 40 become pretty important, whilst there's an extra fielder in the ring." The concept had been raised during the last T20 World Cup and Allen is open to the adjustment.
Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert return to New Zealand's ODI setup for the fourth and fifth matches; Allen and Ferguson last appeared in an ODI in 2023, with Ferguson’s most recent outing coming in the World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai. Seifert's last ODI came in New Zealand's home series against Pakistan around 18 months ago. Walter said: "We're incredibly lucky to have the depth that we do to have 21 players involved in the series," and added: "It's also great to bring guys like Lockie, Finn, and Tim back into the one day unit. They're all exciting and explosive players in their own right and are proven match winners." He later said: "For Finn and Tim in particular, we've seen what they can do in the T20 arena, and it's now a great opportunity for them to push their case in the longer format."
Rachin Ravindra will return for the first three ODIs after recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of New Zealand's T20I squad. New Zealand will also look to build on their 2-1 ODI series win in India earlier this year, which was their first bilateral ODI series victory on Indian soil. The coaching staff are managing fast-bowler workloads ahead of a busy calendar, and Will O'Rourke is recovering from a lower-back injury sustained in England, with a calf problem having delayed his return to bowling; Walter said: "The injury is sort of recovered and we're pretty happy with that, but there's obviously just a real safe loading pattern for him to get into to be ready for Test match cricket. We want to pay respect to that and also pay respect to the injury that he came from, from a lower-back point of view." Ben Sears is recovering from ankle surgery and is expected to start running within the next one to two weeks and will need to build up gradually before returning to bowling, while Zak Foulkes remains sidelined by a hip flexor injury; O'Rourke, Sears and Foulkes were unavailable for the India ODI series.
New Zealand will play a five-match T20I series against India before the ODI fixtures, with a two-Test series to follow; the first Test is scheduled in Wellington from November 19 to 23 and the second in Christchurch from November 27 to December 1. The selectors are expected to announce the Test squad in early November, and the split ODI selection is intended to both give Test players additional preparation time and provide opportunities for others to press their case for the 2027 World Cup plans.
