New Zealand ODI Squad Shake-Up: Lister In, Sears Out

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-07-02

New Zealand Cricket has announced its 16-man squad for the five-match ODI series against the West Indies, starting July 11 in Guyana. The tour is a key step in building toward the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, and the selectors have made some interesting calls. Mitchell Santner will lead the side throughout the Caribbean tour. He's an experienced all-rounder who knows how to handle pressure. But the big news is around the bowling attack, with a couple of changes you need to know about. ### Jacob Duffy Returns to the Black Caps Jacob Duffy is back in the ODI squad after taking a short break for the birth of his first child. He missed the recent Test series win over England but last played for New Zealand during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year. Duffy's return is huge for the team. He's currently the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal holder as New Zealand's player of the year. Head coach Rob Walter called him a "stand-out performer across all formats" over the last two years. The coaching staff expects him to bring leadership and depth to the pace attack, especially with several veteran players missing. ### Matthew Fisher Earns Maiden ODI Call-Up The selectors also brought in 26-year-old speedster Matthew Fisher. This is his first-ever call-up to the ODI squad. He's played one Test and one T20 International for New Zealand, but he hasn't made his 50-over debut yet. Coach Walter praised Fisher's consistent domestic performances. He noted Fisher's ability to bowl at a good pace and his commitment to developing different variations for different phases of an innings. The team believes his adaptability will make him a valuable addition. ### Injury Blow for Ben Sears Ben Sears won't be traveling to the West Indies. He'll head back to New Zealand for treatment after an ankle injury flared up. He first felt pain during a four-day Test against Ireland in May, but it got worse on the final day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge. Medical staff made the precautionary decision to send him home to prevent further damage. It's a tough break for Sears, who was originally named in the squad after his strong performances against England. ### Ben Lister Named as Replacement Auckland Aces bowler Ben Lister will join the team in Guyana to take Sears' place. Lister is an experienced white-ball player with 17 international matches under his belt. He made his ODI debut in 2023 against Pakistan in Karachi and has taken 17 wickets across all formats for the Black Caps. Lister last played for the national team during the ODI series against Bangladesh in April. His left-arm pace offers a different angle to the New Zealand attack, which could be useful on the Guyana and Barbados pitches. ### What This Means for the Series This series is all about preparation for the 2027 World Cup. The squad has a mix of experience and fresh faces, which should make for some exciting cricket. Here are the key players to watch: - **Mitchell Santner** (Captain): The all-rounder leads the charge with both bat and ball. - **Jacob Duffy**: The player of the year returns to anchor the bowling. - **Matthew Fisher**: A debutant with pace and potential. - **Ben Lister**: Left-arm variety to challenge the West Indies batters. The matches will be played in Guyana and Barbados. The conditions there can be tricky, so having bowlers with different styles will be crucial. New Zealand will be hoping to build momentum and test their depth before the World Cup. For fans in the United States, you can catch the action live on major sports streaming platforms. The series kicks off on July 11, so mark your calendars.