Another day, another international squad announcement and this one delivers special news for Central Stag Dean Foxcroft.

Fresh off a strong Stags season and white-ball BLACKCAPS tour of Bangladesh, the off-spinning allrounder has earned his first Test squad selection as New Zealand gets ready to head to the United Kingdom, with fellow spinning allrounder Michael Bracewell having elected to step back from Test cricket to focus more time on his young family and limited-overs cricket, and Mitch Santner injured.

The BLACKCAPS will kick off with a one-off four-day Test match against Ireland in Belfast this month, then kick on to England for a much anticipated three-match Test series against Ben Stokes's boys at Lord's, the Kia Oval and Trent Bridge.

The tour also sees Blair Tickner stride back onto the Test scene after blasting his way back from the gutting shoulder dislocation that cut short his emotional and successful Test recall against the West Indies at the end of last year.

Foxcroft and Young bat together in this year's Plunket Shield | MBUTCHER

Batter Will Young has also been named in the squad - for the Ireland leg only; and while Stags spinner Ajaz Patel has not been selected in the squad, he could well be in the frame should there be any injuries in the spin department, given he's just up the road playing County Cricket for Leicestershire.

Foxcroft said he was "blown away" when BLACKCAPS Head Coach Rob Walter told him he had been selected in the Test squad.

“It’s quite surreal, and a dream come true. 

“From a young age you dream about playing Test cricket, or even just to be in a Test squad, so I’m buzzing and I can’t wait.”

Foxcroft's career had flourished since he linked back up with his original Stags teammates last year. 

After a trip to Bangladesh with the 2025 New Zealand A side, the 28-year-old scored 408 runs in the latest season's Plunket Shield at a 34.08 average, as well as making key contributions to the successful Ford Trophy campaign and Super Smash.

Tickner's return sees him named alongside Kyle Jamieson, Will O'Rourke, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith in the potential pace attack, while Jacob Duffy stays at home ahead of the birth of his first child.

Not only that, but Michael Rae and uncapped Kristian Clarke have also both been included for the Ireland leg only - along with Ben Sears who will be in England as the 'travelling reserve'.

Along with Tickner, the consummate Kane Williamson also rejoins the extended squad of 19, after last playing for the side in a Test series against the West Indies in December.

The tour begins an important period of long-form cricket for BLACKCAPS, beginning a run of 13 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) matches from June in England until March 2027.

Inaugural WTC champions the BLACKCAPS currently sit second on the current cycle's WTC table, and will host India in New Zealand for a two-Test series at the start of the next home summer, followed by four Tests away to Australia in December-January; two Tests back at home against Sri Lanka; and two Tests in Pakistan to finish.

Dean Foxcroft | PHOTOSPORT

Walter said it was a hugely exciting period ahead for the team in the pinnacle format of the game.

“To be able to test ourselves against some of the very best Test teams in the world is an exciting challenge, and with the added carrot of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship,” said the former Stags Head Coach.

“I know it’s something the players and staff alike have been looking forward to for some time and we’re determined to meet the opportunity head on.”

Walter added that it was "a great privilege" to start this next period of sustained red-ball cricket with almost all his pace bowlers ready to go. 

Henry, Foulkes, Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips will join the squad once their respective stints in the Indian Premier League conclude, with the IPL26 finals running from May 25 to the final on May 31, clashing with the Ireland Test.

NZC's Domestic player of the year and Canterbury red-ball captain Henry Nicholls has meanwhile earned a recall for both tours, perhaps a factor in confining Young to the Ireland Test squad only.

The New Zealand-based Test players will train at the NZC High Performance Centre at Lincoln University over the next two weeks, departing for the United Kingdom on 22 May.

The one-off four-day Test against Ireland begins at Stormont in Belfast on 27 May with Sky confirmed to broadcast all four UK Tests live in New Zealand.

The series against England will see the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy contested for just the second time, after it was introduced in 2024 to honour the late greats Martin Crowe - a former Central Stags captain - and Graham Thorpe.

2026 Test Squad to Ireland and England

Tom Latham - captain, Canterbury

Tom Blundell - wicketkeeper, Wellington Firebirds

Kristian Clarke * - Northern Districts (IRE only)

Devon Conway - Wellington Firebirds

Zak Foulkes - Canterbury 

Dean Foxcroft * - Central Stags

Matt Henry - Canterbury

Kyle Jamieson - Canterbury

Daryl Mitchell - Canterbury

Henry Nicholls - Canterbury

Will O’Rourke - Canterbury

Glenn Phillips - Otago

Michael Rae - Canterbury (IRE only)

Rachin Ravindra - Wellington Firebirds

Ben Sears - Wellington Firebirds (IRE only + travelling reserve for ENG)

Nathan Smith - Wellington Firebirds

Blair Tickner - Central Stags

Kane Williamson - Northern Districts

Will Young - Central Stags (IRE only)

* Potential Test debut

SCHEDULE

Four-Day Test v Ireland • May 27-30 • Stormont, Belfast

1st Test v England • June 4-8 • Lord’s, London

2nd Test v England • June 17-21 • The Kia Oval, London

3rd Test v England • June 25-29 • Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Article added: Thursday 7 May 2026