Analysing the New Zealand A Squad to Tour Bangladesh
The year's most anticipated series is nearly here!
It finally happened, I’ll admit it. The modern cricket calendar, that hulking, all-encompassing behemoth, has bested me. I’d like to think I follow New Zealand cricket as closely as anyone, as this blog attests. I check the IPL and PSL scores every morning to track how the Kiwis are performing. When I type ‘P’ into my search bar, the first autocomplete suggestion is ‘Plunket Shield 2024/25 Statistics.’ I probably spend as much time thinking about Mathew Sinclair’s Test career as my actual job. But, a series involving New Zealand, that starts next week, no less, has snuck under my radar. You win, calendar, 50 lashes will follow as penance.
As I learned yesterday, New Zealand A will tour Bangladesh for three List A games and two unofficial “Tests” (both four-day fixtures) starting next Monday. With the Black Caps’ next international assignment not until mid-July, the series arrives at a perfect time for fans starved of New Zealand cricketing action amid a light upcoming schedule.
From a developmental perspective, the series is also perfectly scheduled, as the Test side proper sits on the precipice of a significant rebuild. Most of the regular suspects are firmly on the wrong side of 30, while a few, like Blundell and Conway, are battling long-term form slumps. With just five Tests scheduled this year—against Zimbabwe and the West Indies—before a bumper 2026 including back-to-back-to-back series against the Big Three, there’s a genuine risk that the core of the side will age out in the interim, meaning New Zealand should have one eye on future-proofing the team. The upcoming Tests against Zimbabwe, which fall outside the WTC, present the perfect starting point, particularly with a few regulars likely to miss that series for various reasons. Put simply, the time to identify and blood the next generation has arrived.
As such, it’s all to play for on this tour, with several players knowing that a standout series will catapult them into the selection frame. I’ll analyse the New Zealand A squad, poring over each player’s history, prospects, and what they have to gain from this series.
Firstly, the squad and schedule:
Nick Kelly (White-ball captain)
Joe Carter (Red-ball captain)
Muhammad Abbas
Adi Ashok
Matt Boyle
Kristian Clarke
Josh Clarkson
Zak Foulkes
Dean Foxcroft
Mitch Hay
Curtis Heaphy
Jayden Lennox
Ben Lister
Rhys Mariu
Dale Phillips
List A Matches
Monday 5 May – Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet – 3.30 pm NZT
Wednesday 7 May - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet – 3.30 pm NZT
Saturday 10 May - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet – 3.30 pm NZT
Unofficial “Tests”
Wednesday 14-17 May - Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet – 4 pm NZT
Wednesday 21-24 May - Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka – 4 pm NZT
New Zealand have named a strong 15-man squad, featuring nine players with Black Caps experience. Fresh off his ODI debut against Pakistan, Wellington skipper Nick Kelly will captain the side for the white ball leg of the tour, while Northern Districts’ Joe Carter will take the helm for the first-class fixtures. Let’s take a closer look at the squad.
Nick Kelly (Wellington Firebirds, 31)
Nick Kelly earned his maiden international call-up for the recently concluded ODI series against Pakistan on the back of supreme, cross-format form throughout the domestic season. Kelly topped the Plunket Shield run-scorer charts with 749 runs at 57.6, to go with 238 runs at 26 with a strike rate of 126 in the Super Smash, and 320 runs at 40 with a strike rate of 101 in the Ford Trophy.
What’s at Stake?
Realistically, I don’t think Kelly has a genuine chance to crack the Test side, despite his recent form. While you should never say never, Kelly will be 32 by the time New Zealand next plays a Test and has a middling first-class record. However, after a decade of toiling on the domestic circuit, this selection to captain the white ball leg of the tour is a well-deserved reward.
Given his recent ODI debut, Kelly seems to be at least in the broader ODI selection frame, if not the first XI, so he still has plenty to play for from that perspective. With significant competition for places, he’ll want some scores on this tour to remain in the ODI picture in the ramp-up to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
Joe Carter (Northern Districts, 32)
Another domestic stalwart, Joe Carter will captain the red ball leg of the tour. The responsibility comes after Carter excelled the last time New Zealand A toured Asia, against India A in 2022, scoring 197 in the first match and 111 in the third, both in Bengaluru.
Carter’s domestic record this season was slightly patchier, averaging just 28 in the Ford Trophy and 24 in the Super Smash, but he had a strong first-class season, scoring 299 runs at 50 with two hundreds.
What’s at Stake?
Like Kelly, I don’t see Carter as a realistic candidate to make the Test side given his age and mid-30s first-class average. Similarly, his strike rates are concerning on the white ball side of things: just 78 in List A and 118 in T20. As such, I don’t see an obvious path for Carter to make the international side. However, he should provide a solid, mature hand for many of the younger batters on tour, while his selection represents a deserved reward for a 12-year domestic career.
Muhammad Abbas (Wellington Firebirds, 21)
Abbas’ name should be more familiar, given I’ve covered his rise in my feature here. If not, the TL;DR version is that this kid has the goods. Like, serious talent, as we saw when he recently scored the fastest 50 by an ODI debutant. Throughout that series, I thought Abbas looked a cut above the other New Zealand batters against spin, so watching how he adjusts to the Bangladeshi pitches on his first opportunity in Asia will be fascinating.
Abbas’s ODI debut followed a strong domestic season, where he scored 185 runs at 30 with a strike rate of 147 in the Super Smash and 340 runs at 42.5 with a strike rate of 89 in the Ford Trophy.
What’s at Stake?
Many have predicted that it’s a matter of when, not if, Abbas cements his spot in the senior side. Already, he’ll be hard to extricate from the ODI side after his blazing start. In the long term, I see him as the natural successor to Daryl Mitchell, batting at number five in the Test side while also offering part-time left-arm seam. As such, Abbas has heaps to gain from this tour, which is another stepping stone in his development. If he continues to impress, he has a good chance to feature in the T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe, with an outside chance for a Test debut to follow shortly after, if the selectors feel especially bold.
Mitch Hay (Canterbury, 24)
In my opinion, no one has more to gain from this tour than Mitch Hay, who has an increasingly clear path to becoming New Zealand’s first-choice wicketkeeper in all three formats.
Hay has been making himself difficult to ignore, averaging 47.8 from 22 first-class games. That includes scoring 240 runs at 60 this season, building upon his breakout 23/24 season where he notched 562 runs at 51, including his maiden first-class ton, 146 against Northern Districts to rescue Canterbury from 4/79. Pair that with a T20 career strike rate above 140 and natural athleticism with the gloves, and Hay has all the raw materials to succeed internationally.
What’s at Stake?
A lot. At this stage, it appears Hay has been earmarked as the next long-term New Zealand wicket-keeper, after accruing seven ODIs and 10 T20Is since his international debut last November.
On the other hand, the man he would be usurping in the Test side, Tom Blundell, has been in a long-term slump. While Blundell has been a fantastic contributor since BJ Watling’s retirement, his form fell off a cliff in 2024, averaging just 23.3 from 12 Tests. To employ some good, old-fashioned RootMaths, that drops to 16.7 if you remove his 115 against England, which was scored in the deadest of match scenarios, with Blundell coming in at 4/59 chasing 583. Blundell’s overall numbers are boosted by his successful stint opening and his debut hundred, which came at number eight. If you hone in on his time batting at number six, where Blundell has spent 27 of his 40 tests, he averages 22. In isolation, we could probably overlook these numbers if it weren’t for the most damning of all: Blundell is 35 in September and will be 36 by the time the series against India and Australia roll around next year.
Usually, when a player’s form disappears at that age, it doesn’t return, and with Hay waiting in the wings, the pressure is mounting for the selectors to make a decision. With a solid showing in Bangladesh, they may decide the time is right to transition away from Blundell and towards Mitch Hay.
Rhys Mariu (Canterbury, 23)
Mariu is another who debuted in the recent ODI series against Pakistan and has a serious opportunity to play more international cricket soon.
A classy young opening batter, Mariu has simply been knocking the door down in domestic cricket through a sheer weight of runs. After 15 first-class appearances, he’s averaging the best part of 60 (59.83, to be precise), scoring 747 runs at 74 in this season’s Plunket Shield. To underscore the regard in which he’s held, Mariu has already captained Canterbury, aged 22, like a lower-stakes version of Graeme Smith. He repaid the faith and then some, racking up 240 in that game and 185 in the following match against Auckland.
What’s at Stake?
In case you missed it, Mariu averages 60 in first-class cricket. 60. With numbers like that, it’s no wonder the calls have been mounting to get him into the Test side ASAP. More runs on this tour could put his case over the edge; too prolific to ignore.
Given New Zealand’s openers have struggled recently—Devon Conway only averaged 21.4 in 2024, and Latham only 26.4—and Conway’s future is murky given his casual contract with NZC, it’s not difficult to imagine how a spot might open up for him imminently.
Matt Boyle (Canterbury, 22)
Cricket runs in Matt Boyle’s blood: his brother Jack plays for Central Districts, while his father and uncle both played for Canterbury. Now, Boyle is forging his own path, topping the run-scoring charts in the most recent Super Smash with 377 at 37.7, striking at 156.
While he hasn’t quite figured out the other formats to the same extent, averaging in the 20s in both FC and List A cricket from a handful of matches, Boyle has also shown promising signs, scoring his maiden hundred in both formats this year. His breakthrough List A hundred came against Wellington, scoring 133 (124) as part of a record partnership to rescue the side from 2/19, while his maiden first-class ton came against Central, scoring 116 (150), leading to Boyle being named Canterbury’s Player of the Year.
What’s at Stake?
I’m pretty sure Boyle will play for the Black Caps one day, but it’s likely a year or two too soon to elevate him to the senior side. Although given his dominant Super Smash form, a spot in the T20 tri-series squad is within his grasp if he really excels.
More likely, this tour should be an excellent stepping stone in Boyle’s development, leaving him poised to make his international debut in the coming years.
Curtis Heaphy (Central Stags, 21)
Curtis Heaphy is another who enjoyed a breakout 2024/25 season, capped off by being named the Stags' Player of the Year. A wicketkeeper-batter by trade (though, so far, Dane Cleaver has prevented him from taking the gloves), Heaphy has had to be content to let his bat do the talking. Heaphy caught many eyes as the top run scorer in this year’s Ford Trophy, notching 502 at 71.7.
Just 21, he’s also made a very solid start to his first-class career, averaging 36 from 18 appearances, after debuting as a teenager in 2022. That includes scoring 445 runs at 37 in the most recent Plunket Shield.
What’s at Stake?
Like Boyle, I have little doubt that Heaphy will play for the Black Caps eventually, but again, I think it’s a year or two too soon. Still finding his feet at this level, Heaphy’s modest strike rates (37 in FC cricket, 69 in List A, and 109 in T20s) probably hold him back from being international-quality quite yet. However, as a young man and a fast-improver, there’s little doubt he will set that right over time and has a big future ahead.
Adi Ashok (Auckland Aces, 22)
A tour to Bangladesh is a just reward for Adi Ashok, who has the lonely occupation of toiling as a spinner in New Zealand domestic cricket. Having already played a handful of white ball games, I believe it is a matter of when, not if, Ashok plays Test cricket for New Zealand. Ashok is currently the most talented young spinner in the country by a distance, at a time when Ajaz Patel, Mitch Santner, and Ish Sodhi are getting close to aging out.
A tricky legspinner, Ashok has claimed 54 wickets from 18 first-class appearances at an average of 34, including 18 wickets at 33 this season. His T20 numbers are also solid, claiming 31 wickets from 29 appearances, at an economy of 7.5.
What’s at Stake?
Ashok should lead the spin attack in friendly conditions and has a real opportunity to break out on this tour. Long-term, I suspect Ashok’s most significant impediment to making the Test side will be neither his talent nor his competition, but New Zealand’s reticence to select a spinner at home. New Zealand next visits Asia when touring Pakistan in March 2027, which I have tentatively circled as a chance for Ashok to debut, given that Ajaz Patel will be nearly 38 by then and Santner 35.
Ashok’s inclusion in the squad for the recent ODI series against Pakistan shows he’s in the selectors' plans in the white ball formats, too. He will find it challenging to leapfrog Santner or Bracewell in the short term, but should be the heir apparent when either retires.
Kristian Clarke (Northern Districts, 24)
A talented young all-rounder, Clarke first made headlines during the 2020 U19s World Cup, when his 4/25 and 46* (42) helped New Zealand beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals.
This season, Clarke did a bit of everything. He was the fourth-highest scorer in the Super Smash, accumulating 285 runs at 35.3 with a strike rate of 128, while also contributing 12 wickets at 20. In first-class cricket, Clarke scored 288 runs at 32 while taking 16 wickets at 44.
What’s at Stake?
Realistically, I don’t think Clarke is that close to making the international team just yet. As a bowling all-rounder, his nearest competition is probably Nathan Smith. However, his batting numbers are nothing special yet, averaging in the 20s in first-class cricket and just over 10 in the white ball formats, while his economy is also a touch concerning, going at 3.4 in first-class cricket and 9 in T20s.
Having said that, the raw materials are all there for Clarke to succeed; it’s just a matter of putting them together, so a strong tour would put his name more firmly on the radar and announce that Clarke means business.
Zak Foulkes (Canterbury, 22)
A brisk young seam bowler, Zak Foulkes is another who has already had a taste of the international arena, accumulating ten T20s and one ODI to date.
This call-up comes on the back of another strong domestic season, where Foulkes took 16 wickets at 25.5 in the Ford Trophy, 15 wickets at 31.8 in the Plunket Shield, and 13 wickets at 21.5 and an economy of 8.1 in the Super Smash. Overall, his numbers are promising, having taken 60 wickets from 46 T20s at 19.6 and 54 first-class wickets at 26.7.
What’s at Stake?
While Foulkes is unlikely to enjoy the same sort of seam-friendly pitches in Bangladesh as he does at home, he has the chance to prove his versatility and ability to adjust to unfamiliar conditions on this tour. Aside from Will O’Rourke, New Zealand’s current fast bowling cartel are all slightly older, so at 22, Foulkes will doubtless get more opportunities at the top level throughout his career. Right now, he’s probably behind Henry, O’Rourke, Jamieson, Sears, Duffy, and Smith in the queue. However, with continued solid returns, Foulkes will be an international regular at some stage; it’s just a question of when.
Josh Clarkson (Central Stags, 28)
After finding his way to the fringes of the white ball squads earlier in the season, Clarkson seemed to have fallen off the radar once Pakistan came to town. Still, as a hard-hitting middle-order batter who bowls part-time seam, Clarkson has the right skills to feature at the top level.
Having earned a reputation as a fast-scoring, hard-hitting batter, Clarkson had a breakthrough red ball season, scoring 348 runs at 69.6, including two of his three first-class hundreds. He also chipped in with four handy wickets at 53.7, delivering 71 overs.
Clarkson was solid but unspectacular in the other formats, scoring 153 runs at 21.8 in the Ford Trophy to go with 10 wickets at 34.6, and just 86 runs at 21.5 in the Super Smash. Overall, though, his T20 record is encouraging, averaging 27.1 at a strike rate north of 142.
What’s at Stake?
As mentioned, Clarkson was on the fringes of the white ball squads at the start of the season, featuring on the tour to Sri Lanka. Since then, he seems to have fallen down the pecking order, with Abbas emerging to fill a similar role as an aggressive middle-order batter offering part-time seam overs. It’s hard to see Clarkson eclipsing Abbas, given the latter’s immense promise; however, international cricket always has room for multi-skilled players who hit a long ball like Clarkson, so a strong showing would keep him in the selectors' minds.
Dean Foxcroft (Otago Volts, 27)
Foxcroft featured for South Africa in the 2016 U19s World Cup, making him another in the long line of South African expats playing for New Zealand. Foxcroft already has a handful of international appearances, with the most recent coming a year ago against Pakistan.
Foxcroft’s initial call-up came after a massive season in 2022/23, where he topped the run-scoring charts in the Super Smash, scoring 424 at 47.1, backing that up with the fifth most runs that Plunket Shield season, 631 at 45.
Since then, Foxcroft’s returns have been more modest, scoring 331 runs at 27.6 in the latest Plunket Shield, to go with 131 runs at 26.2 in the Super Smash and 273 runs at 27.3 in the Ford Trophy.
Arguably, Foxcroft provided as much value with his part-time off-spin as his batting, claiming 18 wickets at 30.6 in the Plunket Shield and seven wickets at 17.7 with an economy of 6.9 in the Super Smash.
What’s at Stake?
At 27, Foxcroft should be coming into his prime as a batter, and a strong run of form at the right time will put him squarely in the selectors’ consideration. He will need to show more than his first-class average of 31 to earn a Test call-up, but a consistent place in the white ball side is certainly within Foxcroft’s grasp. More in the anchor mould, Foxcroft could play a Williamson-esque role whenever Kane finally hangs up the boots.
Jayden Lennox (Central Stags, 30)
As a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Lennox will play a crucial role with the ball on this tour, pairing with Adi Ashok to form the core of our spin attack.
A late bloomer, Lennox didn’t make his first-class debut until he was 26, back in 2021. After taking a while to make his mark, Lennox enjoyed his most successful season to date in 2024/25. Heading into the season, Lennox had taken just 11 first-class wickets at 63.7. He finished the Plunket Shield as the seventh top wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets at 23.4, including his maiden five-wicket haul, 5/66 against Otago.
Lennox’s form carried across formats. He also claimed nine wickets at 27 with an economy of 7.3 in the Super Smash and 16 wickets at 29.3 in the Ford Trophy.
What’s at Stake?
At the start of the season, if you’d asked me if Jayden Lennox had a chance of playing for the Black Caps, I would have had one of two responses: who, or full-throated laughter. Now, though, Lennox has at least put himself in the shop window. It’s still probably far-fetched for Lennox to displace Santner, Bracewell or Sodhi in the white ball formats, or leapfrog Ajaz Patel in the Test side. Yet, following his best-ever season, Lennox will want to keep the momentum going in helpful conditions to pose a few tricky questions to the selectors.
Ben Lister (Auckland Aces, 29)
A nippy left-arm seamer, Lister has already played a handful of white ball games for New Zealand, like many in this squad. However, with the most recent of these coming a year ago, he has seemingly fallen back down the pecking order.
It was a quiet, injury-riddled season for Lister, who suffered a nasty clash in the field during a Super Smash game. As a result, he only featured in three Ford Trophy matches, taking three wickets at 42.5. Additionally, he only managed one first-class fixture and two T20s, failing to take a wicket.
However, Lister’s selection comes after years of consistent performances, taking 78 wickets at 26.5 across his first-class career and 76 wickets at 24.6 with an economy of 7.9 in T20s. Lister has also performed solidly in his limited T20I appearances, claiming 11 wickets at 28.7.
What’s at Stake?
I believe Lister has a good chance to feature more for the Black Caps in the future. Red ball selection might be a stretch, with Henry, O’Rourke, Jamieson, Sears, Smith, and Duffy all seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order, but Lister has a strong chance to add to his white ball caps. As much as anything, that’s because Lister offers a point of difference as a left-arm seamer, something we lack in the post-Boult and Wagner era, and may want to exploit against certain matchups.
Dale Phillips (Otago Volts, 26)
Dale Phillips—yes, Glenn’s brother, there’s another one—is another who enjoyed his best domestic season, being named Otago’s Player of the Year.
Phillips had a fantastic Ford Trophy season, with only Curtis Heaphy scoring more runs than his 457 at 45.7. He was also impactful in the Super Smash, scoring 210 runs at 23.3, with a blistering 154 strike rate.
In the first-class game, Phillips had a slightly down year, scoring 427 runs at 28.5. However, Phillips topped the run-scoring charts the previous season with 686 at 49.
Like his brother, Phillips has also begun to discover his nascent bowling talent, delivering 48 overs of part-time seam to take all 10 of his first-class wickets this season (at a very healthy average of 20.4).
What’s at Stake?
I’m throwing all objectivity and analysis aside and demanding that Dale Phillips be called up to the Black Caps squad IMMEDIATELY. I will accept a placement as a sub-fielder as a compromise, but the cricketing world deserves to see both Phillips brothers in tandem in the field at least once. The sheer kinetic energy could power Chat GPT for a week. Make it happen.
In all seriousness, Phillips doesn’t have an obvious path to the top squad in the short term, with the middle order already packed with talent, and the likes of Young, Chapman, Abbas, Mariu, and Hay likely ahead of him as the next cabs off the rank. However, time is on Phillips’s side, and with Mitchell, Williamson, Latham, Conway, and Blundell all closer to the ends of their careers than the beginnings, spots in the Test batting lineup will begin to open up. If he continues to hang out near the top of the run-scoring charts, Phillips could yet seize one.
The Opposition
Bangladesh A Squad: Parvez Hossain Emon, Md Naim Sheikh, Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Saif Hasan, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Shamim Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Rejaur Rahman Raja
I don’t pretend to offer the same level of insight into the Bangladesh A squad. Sorry if you read all this way, holding out for that. However, a glance reveals many familiar names, headlined by Mustafizur Rahman.
Several others have significant international experience, too, including fast bowlers Shoriful Islam and Ebadot Hossain. New Zealand fans will remember Hossain for his remarkable 6/46 as Bangladesh won their first test in New Zealand a few years ago.
In fact, Rejaur Rahman Raja is the only squad member who hasn’t played international cricket for Bangladesh, underscoring that this is a strong, experienced side.
What Next?
When I decided to start this blog, I received some advice: write about things that others aren’t. With so much cricket being played and written about, there’s no point getting lost among a sea of IPL match reports and recaps; you need to zag where others zig. I doubt anything fits that bill better than a Bangladesh A vs New Zealand A series, played concurrently with the IPL, PSL, and County Cricket. Let me know if I am stepping on anyone’s toes—we’d probably get along.
To that end, my plan (if possible) is to cover this series with reports and/or analyses from each match. I say ‘if possible’ because streaming details are currently unconfirmed, with the NZA squad announcement noting, “live streaming details will be confirmed by Bangladesh Cricket in the coming days.”
Presuming, like other recent series in Bangladesh, that the games are live-streamed on YouTube, we’re in luck, and I’ll bring you coverage of the year’s most anticipated series. Hey, at least you can’t accuse me of being in it for the clicks (although if that does sound like your thing, please subscribe and tell a friend).
Before that, though, I want to hear from you: who are you most excited to see play for NZ A on this tour, and who do you think has the most to gain? Was anyone unlucky to miss out (*cough* Tom Bruce *cough*)? Let me know in the comments!
Curtis Heaphy and Mitch Hay have the potential to displace Latham and Blundell as the test wicketkeepers of choice so I'm eager to see them play and hopefully perform.
I'm a bit surprised to see Joe Carter included, I don't really know what he offers to the team if you've already got Kelly there for experience and leadership.
I think it may be quite a successful series in terms of player development though the learning curve for many of these players who have barely played overseas since their U19CWC if at all and are now going to the batting hell of Bangladesh.