There's more good news for BLAIR TICKNER today as he joins Central Stags teammate WILL YOUNG in the BLACKCAPS Test squad.

Pace bowlers Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and Tickner have all been included in a 14-strong BLACKCAPS squad for the first Tegel Test against West Indies, starting at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval on 2 December.

The side’s all-time leading run-scorer Kane Williamson has also returned to the side after missing the Test series in Zimbabwe over the winter.

Duffy and Foulkes made their Test debuts together in Zimbabwe in August, with Foulkes claiming the best match figures by a BLACKCAP on Test debut of 9/75.

Blair Tickner | PHOTOSPORT

Tickner returns to the Test side for the first time since 2023, following back-to-back ANZ player of the match performances against England in the Chemist Warehouse ODI series earlier this month and his selection for the recent ODI Series against the touring West Indians.

Kyle Jamieson and Glenn Phillips weren’t considered for the first Test as they continue to build their match fitness as part of a managed red-ball return-to-play plan.

Daryl Mitchell has been selected in the Test squad, after recovering from the minor groin injury he picked up during the first ODI against the West Indies in Christchurch on 16 November.

 v West Indies

Tegel Test Series

Tom Latham - captain, Canterbury 

Tom Blundell - wicketkeeper, Wellington Firebirds

Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds

Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds

Jacob Duffy – Otago 

Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds

Zak Foulkes – Canterbury

Matt Henry – Canterbury

Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury

Mitchell Santner – Northern Districts

Nathan Smith – Wellington Firebirds

Blair Tickner – Central Stags

Kane Williamson – Northern Districts

Will Young – Central Stags

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with Sport Nation and the Alternative Commentary Collective 

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Article added: Monday 24 November 2025