Black Caps: Picking a New Zealand test side, aged under 30 – Opinion

As this golden generation of New Zealand cricket creeps to its end, Black Caps selectors will need to have one eye on the future before it’s too late. With nearly all of New Zealand’s first XI over the age of 30, there is a risk of players retiring en masse, and coach Rob Walter being left with an inexperienced squad.

Countries such as Australia and India have had the same problem, where selectors have had to be conservative in ending the careers of some of the game’s greats, respectfully.

But, as seen by Mitch Hay at the Basin Reserve, the next generation of players coming through are more than up to the task of international cricket. Here’s how a New Zealand test side made up of players under 30 years old would look.

Openers

Dale Phillips

Age: 27

Tests played: Uncapped

The younger brother of allrounder Glenn, Dale Phillips has stood out at domestic level in his own right over the past couple of seasons. A first-class batting average of just under 37 doesn’t tell the full picture for a player who’s made runs at the top of the order for Otago and now Auckland.

The younger Phillips brother is quick to show his class once he gets in and builds his innings. By all accounts, Dale is a more measured character than his older brother, which is needed for any player to open the batting in test cricket.

Curtis Heaphy

Age: 22

Tests played: Uncapped

A player who will already be on selectors’ radars, Central Districts’ Curtis Heaphy will be an international cricketer sooner rather than later in more than one format. As a wicketkeeper, Heaphy has given up the gloves in red-ball cricket to concentrate on his batting. So far this season, that’s been rewarded with 419 runs at an average of just under 70, including two centuries. Only Henry Nicholls has more.

What’s more, his two half-centuries this season, 65 off 150 balls and 81 off 226 balls, helped save a draw against Otago and show Heaphy has the temperament to knuckle down and play the tough innings. An existing relationship with Black Caps coach Walter will do his chances no harm either.

Middle order

Rhys Mariu

Age: 24

Tests played: Uncapped

An opener by trade, Mariu would be perfectly suited to take the No 3 spot, as and when it’s vacated by Kane Williamson. Everyone who’s seen Mariu bat over the past couple of years – including already for New Zealand – can see a player destined for the highest level, evidenced by his ability to turn centuries into even bigger scores.

He’s had a lean run to start this season’s Plunket Shield. However, of his 182 runs scored so far, 147 of them came in his last innings. A career first-class average of just under 56 shows the kind of player that Mariu is and he will only get better as he ages.

Rachin Ravindra

Age: 26

Tests played: 20

Already the crown jewel in New Zealand’s middle order, Ravindra will only get better over the coming years. His last two test centuries came at better-than and at run-a-ball, showing a ruthless streak to grind attacks down when the Black Caps are on top.

There will be clamour for him to move up to No 3 when Williamson calls time, but he belongs at No 4 as the side’s premier batter. He should also be a contender for the captaincy in the future.

Glenn Phillips

Age: 29

Tests played: 17

When Glenn Phillips made his test debut as a batter at No 5, few would have believed his opening into the side would be the allrounder at No 7. And yet, that’s where we find ourselves in 2025. As seen in white-ball cricket, Phillips is easily one of the best six batters in the country, but finds himself coming in lower down because of the balance New Zealand wants in its test side.

But as the likes of Daryl Mitchell, Will Young and Henry Nicholls move on, Phillips should have first crack at No 5. A test average in the low 30s doesn’t do the 29-year-old justice, with plenty invested in his potential to be the side’s allrounder, especially in seaming conditions where a specialist spinner might not be picked.

Bevon Jacobs

Age: 23

Tests played: Uncapped

When Bevon Jacobs was first picked for the Black Caps at the end of 2024, the then selection manager indicated it was his potential in the Plunket Shield that first turned their heads. In 2025-26, he’s showing just that, with 378 runs at 54, slightly ahead of his career average of 53.23.

Most promisingly, of Jacobs’ 18 first-class innings so far, he’s passed 50 on nine occasions, turning two of them into centuries. There is still plenty for Jacobs to learn, especially if he’s going to have to balance that with a “finisher” role in white-ball cricket. But similar to Australia’s David Warner, Jacobs’ raw ability to hit the ball will transfer across formats.

Wicketkeeper

Mitch Hay

Age: 25

Tests played: 1

In any other international side, there’s a case to be made that Hay would already be a test regular. The 25-year-old more than took his chance on debut against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve, only to lose his spot when incumbent Tom Blundell was passed fit after a hamstring injury. Hay ticks a lot of boxes; his glovework is tidy and he’s shown incredible composure with the bat against a white and now red ball for the Black Caps.

Possible question marks over his ability to turn 50s into centuries, with just one first-class ton after passing 50 on 19 occasions. All up, though, there is plenty to like about Hay and he could also be a contender for future captaincy.

Bowlers

Nathan Smith

Age: 27

Tests played: 4

Smith hasn’t exactly caught the eye in his international opportunities to date, but he is a better player than his test record suggests. First-class batting and bowling averages of around 26 point to a very capable allrounder, evidenced by Smith being the first cab off the rank to replace Tim Southee after his retirement.

He will need to continue to upskill as an international cricketer, especially when the ball doesn’t swing. Has shown he’s capable of putting up a fight with the bat when needed. Will need to be cautious of injuries as he continues to develop.

Zak Foulkes

Age: 23

Tests played: 4

Foulkes has already shown plenty of potential across formats and was rewarded with his first Indian Premier League contract this month. As a rare right-arm bowler that moves the ball away from left-handers, he offers variation similar to Trent Boult but will also need to develop a delivery that moves the other way. Has clear potential with the bat, as seen by his composure in helping the Black Caps over the line to claim an ODI series whitewash over England earlier this year.

Adi Ashok

Age: 23

Tests played: Uncapped

Has stood out in conditions that do not suit him, as evidenced by a host of spinners that have struggled for game time in the Black Caps’ test ranks. A return of 78 wickets in 23 matches for Auckland is good for the young leg-spinner, who will only get better as he matures. Slight worries over team balance in red-ball cricket, where the Black Caps tend to squeeze spinning responsibility in through the allrounder, rather than play a specialist – at home anyway. But Ashok has bags of potential that selectors will already be more than aware of.

Will O’Rourke

Age: 24

Tests played: 11

Currently out injured, but make no mistake, Will O’Rourke is the future leader of this New Zealand attack. At 1.93m, O’Rourke is a proper bully with ball in hand; he doesn’t like batters and they don’t like him. He has already taken 39 wickets in 11 tests, including two five-wicket hauls, the most recent of which came in spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka.

Will need to manage potential issues with stress fractures in his back, but so long as O’Rourke is fit, the Black Caps’ attack has the venom it needs to beat the best sides in the world.

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.