Bevon Jacobs Receives First International Call-Up for T20I Series Against Sri Lanka

Wellington, Dec 23 (NationPress) Batter Bevon Jacobs has received his first international call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka as New Zealand has unveiled the squad for the series commencing in Mount Maunganui on December 28.

Having established a reputation for exceptional power hitting showcased in New Zealand's domestic cricket last season, the 22-year-old has maintained his impressive form in the early stages of the current home summer, demonstrating why he earned a contract in Indian domestic T20 cricket for 2025.

This call-up marks a significant milestone for Jacobs, who was also selected in last month’s IPL mega auction to join Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner at the Mumbai Indians.

Jacobs will get an early glimpse of the visiting Sri Lanka squad as he competes for the New Zealand XI in today’s T20 warm-up at Lincoln University.

Selector Sam Wells extended his congratulations to Jacobs on his first call-up. “This is indeed an exciting moment for Bevon and his family. He’s a talented player with immense potential, and we are eager to introduce him to international cricket,” Wells stated.

“He possesses remarkable power with the bat, but he has also demonstrated a solid technique and temperament in longer formats,” Wells added.

Two 13-member squads have been announced for the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and early January, with this tour marking the beginning of Mitchell Santner’s role as full-time white-ball captain.

The three-match ODI series in January will be New Zealand's final series before the selection of the 15-player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in February.

Wicketkeeper Mitch Hay has been included in both squads after his impressive performance on last month’s tour to Sri Lanka, where the 24-year-old set a men’s T20I record for the most dismissals in an innings (five catches and one stumping) during the first T20I in Dambulla, followed by scoring 49 runs in the second ODI in Pallekelle.

Hay will take on the wicketkeeping duties in the T20I series and has been selected as batting and keeping cover for the ODI series, with the current incumbent Tom Latham joining the squad for the three-match series commencing at the Cello Basin Reserve on January 5.

Latham will be accompanied by Will O’Rourke and Will Young as additions to the ODI squad, replacing Jacobs, Zak Foulkes, and Tim Robinson, who have been selected solely for the T20I series.

O’Rourke will be rested for the T20I series following a demanding Test workload in which the 23-year-old participated in all eight Tests across the Sri Lanka, India, and England series.

Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry are all returning to the white-ball squads after missing last month’s tour to Sri Lanka to focus on the England Test series.

Henry will lead a youthful pace attack that includes Foulkes, O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, and Nathan Smith, an all-rounder from Wellington Firebirds, who is enjoying a breakthrough summer after debuting in all three formats in the past two months.

Santner has been named as the primary spin option alongside all-rounders Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway were unavailable for selection, while Ben Sears (knee) and Kyle Jamieson (back) are sidelined due to injury.

Luke Ronchi will act as interim head coach during this period, with regular head coach Gary Stead taking a break during the two series.

Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne, and Tim Seifert were unavailable for selection due to commitments in the Big Bash League.

The T20I squad will gather on Boxing Day in preparation for the first T20I against Sri Lanka at Bay Oval on December 28.

New Zealand T20I and ODI squads vs Sri Lanka

Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (T20I only), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs (T20I only), Tom Latham (ODI only), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke (ODI only), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson (T20I only), Nathan Smith, Will Young (ODI only)