The BLACKCAPS are back in action next month with Central Stags DANE CLEAVER and WILL YOUNG named for the team's T20 trip to the United Arab Emirate.

Selectors today named a much larger than normal, 22-player squad to cover both the UAE and England legs of an extended T20 International tour which runs from 17 August to 5 September 2023.

Young and Cleaver are among seven players selected for the UAE leg only, with a further seven players joining the squad for the England leg (following the conclusion of The Hundred franchise competition in England).

Eight players stay on board throughout. That includes captain Tim Southee, with Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell still sidelined by injury.

DANE CLEAVER | PHOTOSPORT

Joining the lads in UAE for the first time will be former Central Stag DEAN FOXCROFT who has won his first BLACKCAPS selection, after having been named last summer's NZC Domestic Player of the Year, and fulfilled eligibility requirements for the BLACKCAPS under the ICC's exceptional circumstances criteria (having been struck in South Africa for an entire season due to the untimely arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent border closures).

Earlier, after moving from South Africa to Hawke's Bay, the batsman and off-spinner got his start with the Stags in 2018, debuting in all formats and winning the Dream11 Super Smash with the team in 2019 before heading south to represent Otago.

FOXCROFT AND CLEAVER CELEBRATED IN 2019 | PHOTOSPORT

Young Auckland leg-spinner Adithya (Adi) Ashok is the other new face in the BLACKCAPS today, with no room for left-arm orthodox spinner AJAZ PATEL nor contracted BLACKCAPS paceman BLAIR TICKNER on the plane that departs 12 August. Former Stags quick ADAM MILNE will join the squad in England.

The BLACKCAPS will play three quickfire T20 Internationals against UAE in Dubai in a busy programme on 17, 19 and 20 August, and Cleaver, Young and the rest of the "UAE only" players will also continue on to England for two T20 warm-up games in Worcester and Bristol - grounds very familiar to Young after his recent winters in England, where he is currently representing Nottinghamshire in the LV County Championship.

WILL YOUNG | PHOTOSPORT

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead acknowledged the squad for the upcoming tours is a look to the future, and "a great chance to build on encouraging recent Series results" both at home and away.

“It’s always exciting to introduce new players to the BLACKCAPS environment, and especially so when they’re on the younger side, as Adi and Dean are,” Stead said.

“Dean’s been a really consistent performer domestically, and that was acknowledged by the awards he picked up in March.

"He’s a talented and adaptable batsmen who also bowls useful off-spin so will add to our spinning stocks which is always valued in white-ball cricket.

“Adi’s only in his second year of professional cricket, but we’ve been impressed with his consistency and attitude with the Auckland Aces and when he’s joined New Zealand A and the winter camps.

"With Ish Sodhi not on the UAE tour, it’s an opportunity to develop our next leg-spinner."

DANE CLEAVER | PHOTOSPORT

Kyle Jamieson is another key storyline with the tall, NZC-contracted allrounder completing his return from a frustrating injury layoff.

“Kyle’s worked really hard and made great progress to be available for this tour, and we’re delighted to see him return after such a challenging year," said Stead.

"We’re all aware of his world-class skills, and I know he’s really excited to get back.

“It’s going to be a busy period for our wider group with three, back-to-back away tours before the ICC Cricket World Cup in India in October-November.

“These two T20 series will be a great opportunity to bring our short-form players together as we look to build to the next T20 World Cup in the West Indies and America next June.”

2023 T20 International Tour of UAE + England

Tim Southee - captain, Northern Brave

Finn Allen (Eng) - Auckland Aces

Adi Ashok (UAE) - Auckland Aces

Chad Bowes (UAE) - Canterbury Kings

Mark Chapman - Auckland Aces

Dane Cleaver (UAE) - Central Stags

Devon Conway (Eng) - Wellington Firebirds

Lockie Ferguson - Auckland Aces

Dean Foxcroft (UAE) - Otago Volts

Matt Henry (Eng) - Canterbury Kings

Kyle Jamieson - Auckland Aces

Cole McConchie (UAE) - Canterbury Kings

Adam Milne (Eng) - Wellington Firebirds

Daryl Mitchell (Eng) - Canterbury Kings

Jimmy Neesham - no Major Association affiliation

Glenn Phillips (Eng) - Otago Volts

Rachin Ravindra - Wellington Firebirds

Mitchell Santner - Northern Brave

Tim Seifert - Northern Brave

Henry Shipley (UAE) - Canterbury Kings

Ish Sodhi (Eng) - Canterbury Kings

Will Young (UAE) - Central Stags

TOUR SCHEDULE

Aug 17 • 1st T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 19 • 2nd T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 20 • 3rd T20I v UAE – Dubai

Aug 25 • warm-up T20 – Worcester

Aug 27 • warm-up T20 – Bristol

Aug 30 • 1st T20I v England – Durham

Sept 1 • 2nd T20I v England – Manchester

Sept 3 • 3rd T20I v England – Birmingham

Sept 5 • 4th T20I v England – Nottingham

See full BLACKCAPS Season Schedule

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Article added: Wednesday 19 July 2023