Black Caps v Sri Lanka: IPL surprise buy Bevon Jacobs earns first international call-up for T20 series

Fresh from his surprise Indian Premier League contract, Auckland’s Bevon Jacobs has been handed his first international call-up, named as part of the Black Caps’ 13-strong side to face Sri Lanka in three T20 internationals.

Jacobs, 22, was picked up for 30 lakh (NZ$61,000) by the Mumbai Indians in last month’s IPL auction, despite having played just nine T20 matches for Canterbury, before moving north to Auckland.

However, with his potential clear, Jacobs has been selected for New Zealand for the first time, as the sole uncapped player in the Black Caps’ T20 squad.

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” said selector Sam Wells. “He’s a promising player with a lot of talent and we’re looking forward to exposing him to international cricket.

“He’s clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he’s also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament.”

While Jacobs’ returns with the bat have been modest – with a high score of just 42 in his so-far short T20 career – his 134 runs have come at a strike rate of 188.73.

Elsewhere, the trio of Mitch Hay, Zak Foulkes and Tim Robinson can all earn their Black Caps’ home debuts, after making their first international appearances in Sri Lanka and Pakistan earlier this year.

The three-match series, which is also Mitchell Santner’s first assignment as full-time white-ball captain, begins at Tauranga’s Bay Oval on Saturday and Monday, before game three in Nelson on January 2.

Meanwhile, Jacobs, Foulkes and Robinson will all drop out of the squad for the three-match ODI series that follows, with their places taken by test captain Tom Latham, Will O’Rourke and Will Young.

The ODI series is New Zealand’s final home assignment before the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE. The Black Caps’ 15-man squad for the tournament will be named in February.

Coach Gary Stead has been afforded a break for both series, with assistant Luke Ronchi taking on the head coaching responsibility.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway will miss the three-match ODI series, after opting out of NZ Cricket central contracts to pursue franchise T20 opportunities in South Africa.

Similarly, Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne have done the same in order to play in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson (back) and Ben Sears (knee) are both unavailable through injury.

Black Caps T20 squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith

Black Caps ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young