Three debutants included in Blackcaps squad for South Africa T20Is

Three cricketers will have a chance to make their T20 debut for the Blackcaps in the upcoming five-match home series against South Africa.

Wellington Firebirds batter Nick Kelly has been included for all five matches on the back of his ODI debut against Pakistan at home last April.

Katene Clarke’s maiden Blackcaps call-up follows a break-out Super Smash season where the 26-year-old topped the competition run-scoring charts with 43, including an unbeaten century, as his Northern Brave side claimed the domestic 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 Blackcaps squad," said Blackcaps selector Gavin Larsen.

"He's an explosive player who possesses 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."

Central Districts spinner Jayden Lennox’s first inclusion in a Blackcaps T20 squad follows his successful ODI debut series against India in January where he claimed 3-84 from his 20 overs against the formidable home batting line-up.

Clarke and Lennox will come in for game four and five only.

Captain Michell Santner and seven of his World Cup teammates have been included in an extended squad to face a weakened Proteas side.

Devon Conway and Lockie Ferguson will join Santner in the squad for the first three games, while Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Ben Sears and Ish Sodhi are available the entire series after comparatively lighter workloads during the T20 World Cup campaign.

Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson get their chance to impress after being selected for the full five-game series, with Clarkson back in the side for the first time since playing eight T20Is in 2024.

Tom Latham, who was the top run-scorer for the Canterbury Kings in the Super Smash, makes his return to the national T20 set-up as a wicket-keeper-batsman and will also take over the captaincy reigns from Santner for the final two matches.

BLACKCAPS T20 squad v South Africa

Mitchell Santner (c) (1-3)

Katene Clarke* (4-5)

Josh Clarkson

Dane Cleaver (wk) (4-5)

Devon Conway (wk) (1-3)

Lockie Ferguson (2-3)

Zak Foulkes

Bevon Jacobs

Kyle Jamieson

Nick Kelly*

Tom Latham (wk) (c - 4-5)

Jayden Lennox* (4-5)

Cole McConchie

Jimmy Neesham

Tim Robinson

Ben Sears

Nathan Smith

Ish Sodhi

*Potential T20I debut

Michael Bracewell (calf), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O'Rourke (back) and Blair Tickner (ankle) were not considered for the series due to injury.

WHITE FERNS & BLACKCAPS v South Africa – T20I Doubleheaders Schedule – 2.45pm (women) & 7.15pm (men)

1st T20Is, Bay Oval, Tauranga, Sunday, 15 March 

2nd T20Is, Seddon Park, Hamilton, Tuesday, 17 March 

3rd T20Is, Eden Park, Auckland, Friday, 20 March

4th T20Is, Hnry Stadium, Wellington, Sunday, 22 March

5th T20Is, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Wednesday, 25 March