Mitchell Santner will continue to lead the team
Williamson, who recently announced his retirement from T20I cricket, has opted out of the limited-overs leg to manage the workload and fully recover before the Test series. His absence once again places leadership duties on the shoulders of an all-rounder Mitchell Santnerwho led the side to an impressive victory in the ODI series England earlier this year.
New Zealand coach Rob Walter expressed confidence in the returning faces and praised the efforts of those who performed strongly in recent outings. He especially praised pacer Blair Ticknerwho retains his place after consistent performances against England.
“We couldn’t have asked more from Ticks, he brought energy, speed and resilience, which proved challenging even for top players. Rewarding players like him reflects how we build depth and resilience in our squad,” Walter said.
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Key selection of Matt Henry and others injury updates
Henry’s comeback provides a major boost to the Black Caps’ pace attack. The 32-year-old seamer, who played his last ODI during the opposition match Zimbabwereturns after recovery from a stomach ache. Henry’s experience and control with the new ball will be crucial against an explosive West Indies top order.
However, the team continues to suffer several injury setbacks. Mohammed Abbas (ribs), Find Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (single), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring) were all unavailable for selection. Despite this absence, New Zealand’s bowling core still looks balanced Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffyand the emerging all-rounder Nathan Smith alongside senior pacers Henry and Tickner.
Among the batters, Tom Latham, Devon ConwayAnd Daryl Mitchell form the experienced core, supported by promising young talents Rachin Ravindra, Mark ChapmanAnd Will Jong. Michael Bracewell also returns after missing several months due to injury, adding strength to the middle order and balance with his off-spin. With Santner and Bracewell in the squad, New Zealand has two versatile all-rounders who can adapt to any surface.
Walter acknowledged the challenge of facing a rejuvenated West Indies side. “They are always dangerous and have the ability to change a match in a few overs. This will test our adaptability and consistency across all three locations”, he added.
Series schedule
| Agreement | Location | Date | Local time (NZDT) | GMT | IS |
| 1st ODI | Christchurch (Hagley oval) | November 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM | 1:00 am | 6:30 am |
| 2nd ODI | Napier (McLean Park) | November 19, 2025 | 2:00 PM | 1:00 am | 6:30 am |
| 3rd ODI | Hamilton (Seddon Park) | November 22, 2025 | 2:00 PM | 1:00 am | 6:30 am |
New Zealand ODI squad vs West Indies
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Will Young
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