Latham returns to NZ T20I setup; Clarke, Kelly and Lennox earn maiden call-ups

Tom Latham has returned to New Zealand's T20I setup as the veteran wicketkeeper-batter was named in an extended squad for the five-match home series against South Africa, beginning at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday (March 15). Latham, who last played a T20I in April 2023, was the leading run-scorer for Canterbury Kings in the Super Smash. He will also captain the side for the final two matches of the series, taking over from Mitchell Santner, who leads the team for the opening three games.

"Tom's selection comes off the back of a strong Super Smash season at the top of the order for the Kings," selector Gavin Larsen said. "He'll bring all his quality and experience, but as important is his leadership, which we are also likely to call on in the upcoming white-ball tour to Bangladesh in April."

Santner is among eight members of New Zealand's squad at the just-concluded T20 World Cup, named to face South Africa. Devon Conway and Lockie Ferguson will join Santner for the first three games before departing, while Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi are available for the entire series.

The series will see New Zealand manage workloads following their recent campaign in India and Sri Lanka. As a result, two effectively separate squads have been picked across the five matches.

The squad also features three uncapped players - Katene Clarke, Nick Kelly and Jayden Lennox - with Clarke and Lennox in line to feature in the final two matches. Clarke's call-up follows a standout Super Smash season where he topped the run charts with 431 runs, including an unbeaten century, as Northern Brave clinched the domestic T20 title.

"Katene is someone we've been keeping an eye on for a while now and so it was great to see him shoot the lights out in the Super Smash and force his way into his first Black Caps squad," selector Gavin Larsen said. "He's an explosive player who possess plenty of power and a variety of shots. He's shown destructive ability inside the power play, but also crucially the ability to bat deep in an innings too."

Left-arm spinner Lennox earns his maiden T20I call-up after turning heads in his maiden ODI series against India earlier this year, while Kelly's selection follows consistent domestic performances for Wellington Firebirds and his ODI debut series against Pakistan last year.

Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson have been included for the entire series, with Clarkson returning to the T20I setup for the first time since 2024.

With Conway leaving after the third game, Dane Cleaver will join the squad for the final two matches, marking his return to the national setup after last playing in 2023. Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell (calf), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O'Rourke (back) and Blair Tickner (ankle) were not considered for selection due to injury.

Several senior players including Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Seifert, have been rested after the World Cup campaign, while Matt Henry will miss the series to spend time with his newborn child. On the other side, South Africa will have just three members of the squad that featured at the World Cup, where they were @L0$ by New Zealand in the semifinals.

@B0$Mitchell Santner (c) (games 1-3), Katene Clarke (games 4, 5), Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver (wk) (games4-5), Devon Conway (wk) (games 1-3), Lockie Ferguson (games 2-3), Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Tom Latham (wk, captain for games 4,5), Jayden Lennox (games 4-5), Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi