New Zealand receive fast bowling boost ahead of T20I series against Australia

    New Zealand's fast bowling stocks have been bolstered with the return of Kyle Jamieson and Ben Sears for the upcoming three-match T20I series at home against Australia.

    Kyle Jamieson Kyle Jamieson

    Jamieson missed the tour to Zimbabwe due to the birth of his first child while Sears was ruled out with a side injury. The duo join Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes in the seam attack.

    New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said: "We're building a bigger base of fast bowlers, because we understand that the program is so busy these days, but fast bowling is a key requisite for performance.

    "So we want to make sure we've got as many options as we possibly can have."

    White-ball captain Mitchell Santer has been ruled out of the series after undergoing abdominal surgery last month with Michael Bracewell set to lead the 14-man squad.

    "Never nice to lose your skipper," Walter said. "But these things do happen. And Michael has already been the captain of this team and did a great job against Pakistan. So fully confident in how he will lead the team."

    The three matches against Australia will be played on October 1, 3, and 4 in Mount Maunganui.

    New Zealand T20I squad: Michael Bracewell (captain), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi