New Zealand announces replacement for first Test against Zimbabwe, includes this player

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell has been added to the side for the opening Test against Zimbabwe in the place of injured Glenn Phillips. Phillips got injured in the Major League Cricket (MLC) final and had a medical check-up on arrival in Zimbabwe, which revealed that he would take several weeks to recover.

Michael Bracewell was not originally chosen for the two-Test Zimbabwe series because of his responsibilities with The Hundred tournament in England, which clashed with this series. Bracewell has been included as a replacement for the first Test since Phillips has been sidelined with a groin injury. This will be his Test cricket comeback since 2023.

The 34-year-old New Zealand all-rounder, who last played a Test during Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand in 2023, has been included in the Blackcaps Test squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe due to the injury of Glenn Phillips. He will leave Zimbabwe after the first Test match in Bulawayo and join England to fulfill his commitments with the Southern Brave in The Hundred tournament.

Michael Bracewell made his Test debut in 2022. He has taken 24 wickets and scored 259 runs in 8 Test matches so far. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said that Michael Bracewell has been included in the Test squad for the first Test against Zimbabwe due to Glenn Phillips' injury.

Walter said, "Glenn's injury has left a vacancy in the Test team and Michael is the closest to replacing him. Michael's experience and skill will prove to be very useful for us and will help us maintain the same balance in the team as before." After the conclusion of the T20 tri-series of South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare, Zimbabwe and New Zealand will play a two-Test series in Bulawayo from July 30.

Walter further said, "Since he is here with the T20 team and his availability for the first Test is assured, we are taking advantage of the opportunity to include him in the team. We will perform well in the first Test match and then decide whether to include him in the team for the second Test or not." The first Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand will be played in Bulawayo from July 30 to August 3. The second Test will be played in Bulawayo from August 7 to August 11.