Black Caps ratings: Who leads the race to make the T20 World Cup squad?
Saturday, 11 October 2025
ANALYSIS: Injuries and absences may mean Rob Walter won’t get to see his first-choice T20 side in action until the 2026 World Cup starts.
But a bountiful diet of lead-in matches in the format will at least the Black Caps head coach will witness plenty of players displaying their wares.
After a tri-series in Zimbabwe against the hosts and South Africa which produced a perfect 5-0 record and the accompanying silverware, New Zealand went down 2-0 to a Mitch Marsh-inspired Australia in Mt Maunganui last week.
Next up are England, with three T20Is from October 18-23. The home squad will be named on Monday, so now’s a perfect time for Edition One of the Black Caps Player Ratings for World Cup selection.
Only 15 players will find a place in India and Sri Lanka in February, but here’s our 30 current contenders, in order of selection likelihood:
1) Mitchell Santner: Leader of the side and now long-regarded as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world. The 33-year-old left-arm spinner has taken 124 T20I wickets at 22.57, with an Economy Rate of 7.06.
2) Tim Seifert: Within seven months, the opener-wicketkeeper has gone from non-contracted squad outsider to essential inclusion. In 12 T20Is, he’s smashed almost 500 runs at 49.70, with a blistering Strike Rate of 165.66.
3) Matt Henry: While it isn’t Henry’s most effective format - he’d played just six T20Is between his debut in 2014 and March 2023 - he showed with 10 wickets in four games in Zimbabwe that he’s also the spearhead of this pace attack.
4) Glenn Phillips: Even after 83 matches, you could argue that he hasn’t fully excelled in T20Is. But his potentially explosive batting and off-spin bowling keep him as a key allrounder.
5) Rachin Ravindra: Yet to emerge as a T20I star, but it seems inevitable. His past five outings have outlined his progress and is currently the first-choice No.3 batter.
6) Lockie Ferguson: He hasn’t played a T20I since taking 3-7 in two overs against Sri Lanka last November. But even at 34, Ferguson remains a force - if he can shrug off the string of injuries that will keep him sidelined against England.
7) Finn Allen: Made 151 runs off 51 balls in MLC then injured his foot, which has forced him to miss the next three series with NZ. But a T20I Strike Rate of 163 keeps him as a mouth-watering inclusion.
8) Daryl Mitchell: Has only one big score in his past 16 T20Is, but doesn’t often get to face many balls in the middle-order. Will want some strong performances vs England and the Windies though.
9) Jacob Duffy: His No.5 ICC ranking in T20I bowlers isn’t a fully accurate gauge of the Southlander’s ability, but his performances this year have certainly solidified his place among the leading quicks.
10) Ish Sodhi: Now NZ’s most-capped T20 international, and that experience will probably be leaned on for games in India and Sri Lanka. Got virtually no opportunity to impress at Bay Oval.
11) Devon Conway: Missing out twice against Australia was a setback for the left-hander after coming from a successful time in Zimbabwe. Will get another chance due to Allen’s injury.
12) Adam Milne: Essentially Lockie Ferguson 2.0 - outstanding at times with his pace, but so rarely available on a regular basis. Possibly then, only room for one of them in the Cup squad.
13) Michael Bracewell: That he captained the side in Santner’s absence against Australia shows his all-round ability is highly valued - but the 34-year-old is behind the regular skipper and Phillips in the pecking order.
14) Zak Foulkes: The right-arm inswinging quick has now played 14 T20Is aged just 23 and has fashioned a decent record, taking 16 wickets at 25.12 (ER 8.28).
15) Kane Williamson: If he plays in the series against England, it’ll be his first T20I appearance since last year’s World Cup flop for the Black Caps. Walter knows his qualities but likely wants to see what he can produce now.
16) Tim Robinson: Has made a couple of big scores in recent appearances to illustrate not just the 23-year-old’s potential, but ability to swing a game now. Could jump the queue over the next two months.
17) Mark Chapman: Is now just seven matches short of a century of T20Is after switching from Hong Kong. But his big contributions with the bat have been infrequent, and mostly versus Pakistan.
18) Jimmy Neesham: Did not loom as a likely squad member until Ravindra’s injury and his display in the final match against Australia. His middle/lower-order SR of 151.46 is hard to ignore, and while his bowling (ER 8.88) can be expensive, he is a wicket-taker.
19) Ben Sears: Another pace bowler regularly hampered by injuries, the 27-year-old suffered at the hands of Mitch Marsh at Bay Oval, and will need better showings against England.
20) Kyle Jamieson: Has played more tests than T20Is, despite his back problems. Took 3-8 from four overs versus Pakistan at Hagley Oval in March; in his two games since, 1-100 from eight overs.
21) Trent Boult: We’ve yet to hear officially that the 36-year-old is unavailable for the Black Caps. Has shown in franchise leagues worldwide that he’s clearly still good enough.
22) Bevon Jacobs: When he made 44no from 30 balls on debut in Zimbabwe, the future looked very bright. But presently, glimpses of potential won’t be enough to make the World Cup.
23) Mitch Hay: Is clearly the best glovesman, but hasn’t yet made the batting contributions he’s capable of when Seifert and Conway can both open and keep.
24) Adi Ashok: Was given a NZ Cricket contract ahead of Sodhi for this season, but his only international action recently has been with the NZ A side.
25) Will O’Rourke: Would be picked if fit, but going from a back stress fracture in August to a World Cup in February seems implausible.
Longshots: Nick Kelly, Muhammad Abbas, Dale Phillips, Matt Fisher, Ben Lister.