Zinzan
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So 7 years following the feeble & underwhelming showing in 2019/20 NZ get another chance to gain some form of Test credibility in Australia.
Could come a year or two late for the core group in the current squad who will be in their mid-to-late 30s in 3 years time assuming they haven't already retired, and are still at the top of their game.
NZC need to realise the great opportunity if NZ can perform well & put on a competitive showing & hence need to approach the tour strategically (unlike 2019) by getting future prospects exposure to Australia wickets & conditions a couple of years out.
Here's a list of players around the NZC scene and their ages in 2026 from oldest to youngest, starting with Boult who's admittedly a real stretch.
Boult 37
Blundell 36
KW 36
Mitchell 35
Ferguson 35
Macewell 35
Conway 35
Latham 34
Cleaver 34
Young 34
Henry 34
Santner 34
Solia 33
Tickner 33
Duffy 32
Chapman 32
Jamieson 31
Seifer 31
Shipley 30
Lister 30
Shipley 30
Lister 30
Phillips 29
Sears 28
Foxtrott 28
D Phillips 28
Ravindra 27
Allen 27
O'Rourke 25
Ashok 24
Let us know if there's any young prospects I've missed and what you think the core of the XI could be.
Personally I'm hopeful Jamieson maintains fitness to see him on Australian tracks & that KW will still be playing, even if it would be his last Test series.
Could come a year or two late for the core group in the current squad who will be in their mid-to-late 30s in 3 years time assuming they haven't already retired, and are still at the top of their game.
NZC need to realise the great opportunity if NZ can perform well & put on a competitive showing & hence need to approach the tour strategically (unlike 2019) by getting future prospects exposure to Australia wickets & conditions a couple of years out.
Here's a list of players around the NZC scene and their ages in 2026 from oldest to youngest, starting with Boult who's admittedly a real stretch.
Boult 37
Blundell 36
KW 36
Mitchell 35
Ferguson 35
Macewell 35
Conway 35
Latham 34
Cleaver 34
Young 34
Henry 34
Santner 34
Solia 33
Tickner 33
Duffy 32
Chapman 32
Jamieson 31
Seifer 31
Shipley 30
Lister 30
Shipley 30
Lister 30
Phillips 29
Sears 28
Foxtrott 28
D Phillips 28
Ravindra 27
Allen 27
O'Rourke 25
Ashok 24
Let us know if there's any young prospects I've missed and what you think the core of the XI could be.
Personally I'm hopeful Jamieson maintains fitness to see him on Australian tracks & that KW will still be playing, even if it would be his last Test series.