Auckland Aces batter Bevon Jacobs has earned his maiden New Zealand call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting at Bay Oval this weekend. Jacobs’ power-hitting has turned heads since he burst on to the domestic scene for the Canterbury Kings in last summer’s Super Smash, and he’s continued his form for the Auckland Aces this season in both red-ball and 50-over cricket.
He was the surprise pick by five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Mumbai Indians in last month’s IPL 2025 Mega Auction for just Rs 30 lakh. Owner Nita Ambani and captain Hardik Pandya believe that Jacobs could be perfect replacement for someone like Tim David, who had been signed up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the next season.
“IPL felt such a slim chance, Black Caps was always been the dream, it was what hit me the hardest. Both are actually really unexpected. Job for me will be to go out there and hit it hard as hard as I can,” Bevon Jacobs said after his selection on Monday.
The call-up caps off a memorable month for the 22-year-old who was also picked up in last month’s IPL 2025 mega auction to join Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner at the Mumbai Indians. Jacobs will get an early look at the touring Sri Lanka squad as he lines up for the New Zealand XI in Monday’s T20 warm-up at Lincoln University.
November 25 – Mumbai Indians picked Bevon Jacobs in IPL Auction.
December 23 – Bevon scored 39(16) against Sri Lanka in the T20 Warm-up match when team all-out for 94 runs.
December 23 – Bevon picked for the T20I series against Sri Lanka.
A SCOUTING MASTERCLASS FROM MI pic.twitter.com/RoAk9W8uqv
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 23, 2024
Two 13-strong squads have been selected for the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and early January, with the tour marking the start of Mitchell Santner’s tenure as full-time white-ball captain. The three-game ODI series in January will be the Black Caps final series before the 15-player squad is selected for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February.
The opening white-ball tour of the home summer also represents the first chance for Kiwi fans to see the likes of Zac Foulkes, Mitch Hay and Tim Robinson play for the Black Caps at home, after the trio made their international debuts overseas during the winter.
Canterbury Kings wicketkeeper-batter Hay has been included in both squads after impressing on last month’s tour to Sri Lanka, where the 24-year-old claimed a men’s T20I record for the most dismissals in an innings (five catches and one stumping) in the first T20I in Dambulla, before scoring 49 with the bat in the second ODI in Pallekelle.
Hay will keep in the T20I series and has been selected as batting and keeping cover for the ODI series, with incumbent Tom Latham set to join the squad for the three-match series starting at the Cello Basin Reserve on January 5.
Latham will be joined by Will O’Rourke and Will Young as the ODI squad additions, in place of Jacobs, Foulkes and Robinson who have been selected for the T20I series only. O’Rourke will be rested for the T20I series following a heavy Test workload in which the 23-year-old featured in all eight of the Tests across the Sri Lanka, India and England series.
Black Caps selector Sam Wells congratulated Jacobs on his maiden call-up. “It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” Wells said.
“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.”
Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry all return to the white-ball squads, having missed last month’s trip to Sri Lanka to prepare for the England Test series.
Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes (T20I only), Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs (T20I only), Tom Latham (ODI only), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke (ODI only), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson (T20I only), Nathan Smith, Will Young (ODI only)
Kane Williamson and Devon Conway were unavailable for selection due to their commitments in the South Africa SA20 competition. Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne and Tim Seifert were unavailable for selection due to commitments in the Big Bash League.
