New Zealand are currently slated to play a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, beginning on July 30, following the conclusion of the ongoing T20I tri-series, which also involves South Africa. After Glenn Phillips was ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour due to a right groin injury sustained in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, his replacement for the Test series has finally been named, and it’s none other than Michael Bracewell.
As per the report published in Cricbuzz, it is understood that New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell was initially not available for selection for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe. This was because of his commitment with Southern Brave in The Hundred, which is slated to begin on August 5, but now, the New Zealand management managed to convince him to be a part of the first Test of the series.
Rob Walter, the head coach of New Zealand, said the following on Michael Bracewell’s inclusion in the Test squad, “Glenn's injury provided a gap in the Test squad and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement. Michael's experience and skillset will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team. Given he's here with the T20 squad and his availability aligned for the first Test, we're using the opportunity to include him in the squad.”
“We'll get through the first Test and then we'll make a decision whether we'll replace him for the second Test,” he further said on who will be a part of the New Zealand squad for the second Test of the two-match series.
New Zealand squad for first Test vs Zimbabwe
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young
