New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been drafted into the Test squad for the opening match of the series against Zimbabwe, set to begin on July 30 in Bulawayo. Bracewell comes in as a replacement for Glenn Phillips, who has been ruled out of the two-match series due to a groin injury sustained during his stint in the Major League Cricket 2025 (MLC 2025).
Bracewell was initially unavailable for the Test series as he was contracted to play for Southern Brave in the upcoming season of The Hundred. However, due to Phillips’s injury and Bracewell’s presence in Zimbabwe for the T20I tri-series, the timing worked out well for him to be added into the red-ball side. Head coach Rob Walter called it a "straightforward" decision to bring him in as the like-for-like replacement.
Michael Bracewell has returned to New Zealand’s Test team for the first time since 2023. He made his debut in 2022 and has featured in eight Test matches so far, picking up 24 wickets and scoring 259 runs.
Injured Glenn Phillips Out, Michael Bracewell in for 1st Test vs Zimbabwe
Glenn Phillips’ injury during the recently-concluded Major League Cricket tournament created a void in New Zealand’s Test squad. Walter said Bracewell was a natural fit to fill that role, given his skill set and availability.
"Glenn's injury provided a gap in the Test squad, and Michael is the closest like-for-like replacement. His experience and skill set will be a great asset and allows us to keep the same balance of the team. Given he's here with the T20 squad and his availability aligned for the first Test, we’re using the opportunity to include him in the squad," Walter said as quoted in the release issued by New Zealand Cricket.
Bracewell is expected to head to the UK after the first Test to join Southern Brave. New Zealand have not yet named a replacement for the second Test with Walter stating that any decision on that front will be made closer to the time.
"We’ll get through the first Test and then we’ll make a decision whether we’ll replace him for the second Test," he added.
This two-match Test series will be New Zealand’s first in Zimbabwe since 2016. With Bracewell now in the squad, the visitors will hope to make a solid start to their red-ball return to Bulawayo.
New Zealand Squad for 1st Test vs Zimbabwe
Tom Latham (c), Mitchell Santner, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, William O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Matthew Fisher, Michael Bracewell.
