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Key Points

New Zealand has handed fast bowler Matthew Fisher his maiden Test call-up for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe. Coach Rob Walter highlighted Fisher’s raw pace and potential as key factors in his selection. The squad will be without regulars like Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, offering opportunities for others. The two-match Test series begins on July 30 in Bulawayo.

Key Points: Matthew Fisher Earns NZ Test Call-Up for Zimbabwe Series

  • Matthew Fisher earns first NZ Test call-up after strong domestic performances
  • Coach Rob Walter praises Fisher’s pace and potential
  • Kane Williamson and Tim Southee miss Zimbabwe series
  • Ajaz Patel and Henry Nicholls return to Test squad
3 min read

Matthew Fisher receives maiden call-up as New Zealand announce squad for Zimbabwe Test series

New Zealand fast bowler Matthew Fisher gets maiden Test call-up as Black Caps announce squad for Zimbabwe series with key players rested.

"Matt Fisher is someone we’re really excited about; he’s one of the fastest bowlers in the country with an x-factor. – Rob Walter"

Wellington, July 8

Right-arm seamer Matthew Fisher received a maiden call-up from the national team asthe squad announced for the upcoming two-match test series against Zimbabwe.

The former New Zealand Under-19 player has taken 51 first-class wickets at an average of 24.11 across 14 matches.

New New Zealand coach Rob Walter believes Fisher has a bright future at Test level and is looking forward to seeing what the 25-year-old can produce against Zimbabwe.

"Matt (Fisher) is someone we're really excited about; he's one of the fastest bowlers in the country, and we think he's got an x-factor. We're blessed to have a large number of strong, fast bowlers in this country, giving him a little bit of touring experience and a taste of what it means to be part of the Black Caps," Walter said as quoted by ICC official website.

New Zealand will be without their spearhead Tim Southee after he retired late last year. Other regulars like Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell have also made themselves unavailable for the two-match series. At the same time, Kyle Jamieson has taken time off as he awaits the birth of his first child, and Ben Sears has been ruled out due to an injury.

Walter added that while they will miss the talent and the class, it also provides an opportunity for others to showcase their talent.

"Kane and Michael were up front with New Zealand Cricket about their availability for this tour during the contracting process. While all Test matches are hugely special and important, the fact these Tests aren't part of the ICC World Test Championship did influence the discussions on this occasion. We're lucky to be able to call on the likes of Ajaz (Patel) and Henry (Nicholls) who are both proven performers at Test level," he said.

While Patel's last outing with New Zealand was a Player of the Match performance in the 3-0 whitewash over India last November, Nicholls is returning to the Test squad for the first time since December 2023.

The Test squad is set to assemble at Bulawayo on 27 July, post the T20I tri-series at Harare.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher, Matt Henry*,* Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young

Series Schedule:

First Test: July 30 - August 3, BulawayoSecond Test: August 7-11, Bulawayo.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
As an Indian cricket fan, I remember Ajaz Patel's 10-wicket haul against us last year! 😅 Good to see him back in the squad. New Zealand always manages their player workload well - something BCCI could learn from.
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Aditya G
Fisher's stats look promising - 51 wickets in 14 matches is decent. But Zimbabwe at home is a different challenge. Hope this isn't just a case of 'white player quota' like we sometimes see in other teams. Performance should be the only criteria.
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Sarah B
Interesting squad selection! As someone who follows both NZ and Indian cricket, I appreciate how NZ gives chances to newcomers systematically. In India, we either hype players too much or ignore them completely. Balanced approach needed!
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Nikhil C
No Williamson? That's disappointing for Zimbabwe fans who wanted to see world-class batsmanship. But understandable given it's not part of WTC. Hope the young guns put up a good show - cricket needs competitive matches, not one-sided affairs.

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