Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Jamieson & Sears return for Blackcaps in Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
Sport Nation • September 17th, 2025 12:00 am
Kyle Jamieson | Photo: Photosport
The Blackcaps pace-bowling stocks have been bolstered by the return of Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears for the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series against Australia at Bay Oval next month.
Jamieson, who missed the recent Blackcaps series in Zimbabwe to welcome the birth of his first child, joins in-form seamer Matt Henry, ICC No.1 ranked T20I bowler Jacob Duffy, Canterbury’s Zak Foulkes, and Sears in the seam attack.
Sears was ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour with a side injury and returns to face Australia having made his Test debut against them, while Jamieson has yet to face the trans-Tasman rivals.
Michael Bracewell will lead the team in the absence of white-ball captain Mitchell Santner. He's previously led the side on 10 occasions, registering six wins, three losses and a no-result.
Bracewell said the side was motivated by the prospect of creating some history in the upcoming series.
The difference between the White Ferns & Blackcaps | Sport Nation Mornings
“The Chappell-Hadlee Series is a great way to start the summer,” he said.
“I grew up watching those series and the rivalry is massive between New Zealand and Australia.
“Since 2016 it [the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy] hasn’t been with us, and that’s something we want to change. Having the opportunity to fight for that on home soil is pretty special.”
Santer, who was ruled out of the series following abdominal surgery, will instead target a return in England’s white-ball tour later in the month.
Alongside Santner, Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), were unavailable due to injury.
Kane Williamson, who on Monday was confirmed to play on an NZC international casual playing agreement this season, made himself unavailable for the Australia series.
Bevon Jacobs has retained his spot in the team, after the 23-year-old impressed on debut with 44* not-out off 30 balls against South Africa during the recent T20I Tri Series in Zimbabwe.
Devon Conway maintains his place after being called in as an injury replacement in Zimbabwe.
Tim Seifert continues as the batter-wicketkeeper and will enter the series in good form after smashing the fastest century in the history of the Caribbean Premier League for the St Lucia Kings earlier this month.
Tim Robinson retains his batting spot after a player of the match performance against South Africa in the Tri Series.
How ICC eligibility rules helped Ross Taylor's return to play for Samoa | Afternoons
Ish Sodhi snares the specialist spinner role, after claiming six wickets across his two T20Is in Zimbabwe – becoming the third men’s player in the world to 150 T20I wickets.
Bracewell believed the ‘20 years of T20I’ celebrations at Bay Oval and the form of both sides would make for an entertaining few days in the Mount.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that first ever T20 International at Eden Park,” he said.
“It's amazing to see how far the format has come and I know both sides are looking forward to marking the milestone in style at Bay Oval, which apparently they’re nicknaming beige oval for the series.
“I really need to plan ahead, as it takes a bit of time to grow something like this [a moustache] on my face. I’m trying my best to get into the spirit of that 2005 team and the way they went about it 20 years ago.
“Australia has been playing some really good cricket of late, and so have we, so it should make for an amazing series and a great occasion to be a part of.”
The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy KFC T20I series against Australia gets underway at 7:15pm on October 1 at Bay Oval in Tauranga, with games two and three at the same venue on Friday October 3 and Saturday October 4, respectively.
All matches will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Sport Nation, featuring our award-winning commentary team lead by Daniel McHardy.
Blackcaps T20I squad
Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
