Kane Williamson is once again the captain of the Black Caps for their crucial ICC World Test Championship series with Pakistan, starting December 26.
The Black Caps will push for a place in the inaugural final of the ICC World Trials Championship as they look to back up their 2-0 series victory over the West Indies earlier this month.
The first test on Boxing Day takes place at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, before the New Years test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on January 3.
🇳🇿 New Zealand has named a 13-man team for their crucial ICC World Test Championship series with Pakistan!
Captain Kane Williamson is back after missing Test 2 against the West Indies, while Mitchell Santner has remained the turnaround option ☝️#NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/9M8EYRdyDC
– ICC (@ICC) December 21, 2020
New Zealand sits just behind India in third place on the WTC points table. A series of sweeps against Pakistan and a major defeat for India in Australia would put the Black Caps in a good position to return to Lord’s in London for another ICC final.
With Williamson returning after missing the second Test against the West Indies over the birth of his first child, Devon Conway is retiring from the team and Will Young continues as the batting cap.
Daryl Mitchell remains the bowling all-rounder in place of Colin de Grandhomme, who was dropped from the series last week with a stress reaction to his right ankle.
The test team meets at Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.
Team:
Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling (week), Will Young
.
