Cricket

Kane Williamson's return from injury has bolstered New Zealand's squad for the upcoming Test series against England, while Nathan Smith has earned his maiden Test call-up.Williamson, who missed the recent tour of India due to a groin injury, has recovered in time to take his place in the squad. His return could put pressure on Will Young, who impressed as player of the series in India.Smith, a 26-year-old allrounder, has been rewarded for his impressive performances in domestic cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield and has also performed well for Worcestershire in the County Championship.Uncapped seamer Jacob Duffy has also been included in the squad, while Bear Sears and Kyle Jamieson are unavailable due to injuries. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who took 13 wickets in Pune, will join the group for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton.Ajaz Patel, who claimed 15 wickets against India, has been omitted from the squad, meaning his record of taking all 85 of his Test wickets away from home will remain intact for now.The opening Test against England takes place in Christchurch from November 28. New Zealand will be looking to build on their 3-0 win in India, which has given them a chance of reaching the World Test Championship final."It's obviously a big series for the side in terms of the World Test Championship and to also now be farewelling someone like Tim Southee, only raises it up further," said New Zealand selector Sam Wells."Tim has had a fabulous career and will go down as one of the great Black Caps. I am sure the team and the public will want to give Tim a fitting send-off in what is a highly anticipated series."

Mitchell Santner has been appointed as New Zealand's interim captain for the upcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled for November. The 15-man squad includes two debutants: bowling allrounder Nathan Smith and wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay.Smith, 25, has impressed with his performances for Wellington in domestic white-ball competitions, earning him the NZC's Men's Domestic Player of the Year award in March. Hay, who made his New Zealand A debut last year, has also shown promise.The pace attack will be led by Lockie Ferguson, supported by Smith, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, and Josh Clarkson. Tim Robinson, who excelled on his maiden international tour to Pakistan, has also been included.Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips will provide spin-bowling allround support, while Dean Foxcroft offers offspin options. Legspinner Ish Sodhi, with 117 T20I appearances, brings experience to the squad.Glenn Phillips, Will Young, and Henry Nicholls will bolster the batting lineup. Nicholls had a strong Ford Trophy campaign last summer, scoring 301 runs in six games.Six members of the New Zealand Test squad in India will join the white-ball team in Sri Lanka after the conclusion of the third Test in Mumbai. The New Zealand-based players will depart for Sri Lanka on November 4 ahead of the first T20I in Dambulla on November 9.Chief selector Sam Wells emphasized the importance of building depth for future events, including the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025 and the 2027 ODI World Cup.Head coach Gary Stead will lead the group, assisted by bowling coach Jacob Oram. Former England international James Foster will rejoin New Zealand as their batting coach, while Luke Ronchi focuses on the start of the New Zealand home summer.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the addition of all-rounders Nathan Smith and Josh Clarkson to its central contracts list, replacing Devon Conway and Finn Allen who declined offers last month.Smith, 26, is yet to make his international debut but has impressed in domestic cricket, particularly in red-ball cricket. He was the leading wicket-taker in last season's Plunket Shield with 33 wickets at an average of 17.18 for champions Wellington. He also had a successful stint with Worcestershire in the County Championship, claiming 27 wickets in seven matches."Nathan's been on our radar for a while having been a significant performer in domestic cricket for some time," said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead. "He's been particularly impressive in red-ball cricket and we think he has the skills to be successful in international cricket when he gets a chance."Clarkson, 27, has played three ODIs and T20Is for New Zealand. He featured in series against Bangladesh, Australia, and Pakistan last season."Josh has been involved in both white ball squads over the past twelve months which shows the strides he's made in his game," Stead said. "He's a hard-hitting player with plenty of skills and has shown in his chances so far that he can offer a lot with bat and ball on the international stage. Josh will provide depth and adds value given the volume of white ball cricket on the horizon."The vacancies on the contract list arose when Conway and Allen opted out to take up T20 league deals during January. Conway, who will play in the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings, was offered a casual playing contract, while Allen, who signed a two-year deal with Perth Scorchers in the BBL, will remain eligible for selection on a case-by-case basis.New Zealand return to action next week with a one-off Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida before traveling to Sri Lanka for two Tests and then India for three.

Nottinghamshire's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dealt a blow on Sunday as Worcestershire's Nathan Smith inspired a dramatic collapse with the ball.Resuming on 305 for 6, Worcestershire added a crucial 135 runs to their overnight total, thanks in large part to Smith's impressive knock of 58. The Kiwi all-rounder's efforts helped the visitors post a competitive 355, giving them a slender lead of 44 runs.Nottinghamshire's response began brightly, with openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett putting on 81 for the first wicket. However, Smith's introduction into the attack turned the game on its head.In a devastating spell, Smith ripped through Nottinghamshire's top order, claiming four wickets in seven balls. Duckett (63) was the first to fall, followed by Joe Clarke, Matt Montgomery, and Jack Haynes.The collapse continued as Ben Slater and Calvin Harrison also departed cheaply, leaving Nottinghamshire reeling at 151 for 7 at the close of play. Smith's remarkable figures of 11-4-29-4 left the hosts facing an uphill battle to avoid defeat.Earlier in the day, Harrison had completed a maiden five-wicket haul for Nottinghamshire, dismissing Brett D'Oliveira, Josh Baker, and Joe Leach. However, Smith's heroics overshadowed Harrison's efforts, as Worcestershire took control of the match.With heavy rain forecast for Monday, Nottinghamshire will need to make quick progress in their second innings if they are to set a target for Worcestershire. The visitors, meanwhile, will be confident of securing a victory that would give them a strong start to the season.