James Neesham is like all of us. He gets suckered into buying his favourite teams’ merchandise. An LA Lakers jersey, for example. He is hurt when they don’t do so well. They lost the playoffs 4-1 to Denver Nuggets. And he dunks on his team in front of strangers who he mistakenly assumed keep up with the NBA. “They’re very, very bad right now. Not a great time”.
James Neesham is unlike all of us in some ways too. For one, he travels round the world and somehow doesn’t pick up any souvenirs, and for another, he seems perfectly at ease with the fact that life has ups and downs. Here is the New Zealand’s finisher James Neesham, opening up about things on and off the field.
James Neesham, Allen, Seifert named in the T20I squad in the series vs Pakistan
A new captain and the return of Finn Allen, James Neesham and Tim Seifert are the features of a mix and match Black Caps Twenty20 squad to host Pakistan.
With Mitchell Santner unavailable due to Indian Premier League commitments, along with several frontliners, Bracewell will skipper the Black Caps for the first time on home soil when the five-match T20I series opens in Christchurch on Sunday. Allen, James Neesham and Seifert were included after confirming their availability, if selected, for buildup series to next year’s T20 World Cup in India (against India and Afghanistan in January and February).
The trio were unavailable for the recent home series against Sri Lanka in December and January due to their overseas T20 league commitments, but since returned for their major associations in the 50-over Ford Trophy.
Aside from Santner, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Bevon Jacobs are unavailable due to IPL commitments, while Kane Williamson also made himself unavailable for the series. Leg spinner Ish Sodhi was recalled after missing the recent home series against Sri Lanka, while fast bowler Ben Sears has recovered from the torn hamstring which forced him to return home on the eve of the Champions Trophy last month.
Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke were included for the first three games of the series only, as the selectors seek to manage the workloads of the pace bowlers returning from the Champions Trophy.
Matt Henry was selected for games four and five, subject to further assessment once the ODI squad arrives home on Wednesday. The pace spearhead was the top wicket-taker at the Champions Trophy with 10 at an average of 16.7, but missed the final due to a shoulder injury.
Williamson, Bracewell, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman and Jamieson have Pakistan Super League contracts for the tournament starting on April 12. Mitchell and Chapman provide the batting experience in the T20 squad while Tim Robinson continues his run at the top of the order, and seamer Zak Foulkes and wicketkeeper Mitch Hay retain their spots.
James Neesham, Allen, Seifert ‘very hungry’ to play for NZ as 2026 T20 World Cup prep begins
The uncontracted trio of James Neesham, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are in New Zealand’s plans for the 2026 T20 World Cup after they made themselves available for all of New Zealand’s T20I series in the lead-up to the next ICC tournament, selection manager Sam Wells has said.
The three were in action in the 50-overs Ford Trophy before being reintroduced to New Zealand’s T20I side for the upcoming five-match series at home against Pakistan.
“Yeah, look, we’ve had some discussions with these guys and New Zealand Cricket has really emphasised preparing well for these pinnacle events and the guys have committed to being available for all of our T20 campaigns moving forward, if selected,” Wells said.
“So that’s a real positive. And credit to those guys, they’ve come back and played domestic cricket, played Ford Trophy and performed well.
“So, these guys are still really hungry and made it very clear they’re still very hungry to play for their country.”
James Neesham, who last played for New Zealand in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, reminded everyone of his all-round skills when he clattered a career-best 128 not out off 82 balls and followed it up with figures of 3 for 53 to propel Auckland into the Ford Trophy final. Allen returned to captain Auckland in the Ford Trophy after finishing his BBL stint across the Tasman Sea with Perth Scorchers.
Seifert also returned to play for Northern Districts in both the Ford Trophy and the Plunket Shield despite having turned down a domestic contract. Against a strong Canterbury attack comprising Kyle Jamieson, Zak Foulkes, Henry Shipley and Ish Sodhi, Seifert hit an unbeaten 109 off 71 balls from No. 3 in the Ford Trophy.
“That [the hunger to play for the country] is why they come back and play domestic cricket to stake their claim,” Wells said.
“And they’ve done well as well as performing in the various franchise leagues they play around the world. But it is really helpful from a selection perspective to see them competing in domestic cricket against the guys and see them in the flesh. So, look, we’re really happy with where they’re at.”
Leg spinner Sodhi, who was not picked for the 2025 Champions Trophy, has also returned to the white-ball team with an eye on the spin-friendly surfaces in India at the next T20 World Cup. In the absence of captain Mitchell Santner, who will miss the home series against Pakistan owing to his IPL commitments, Sodhi is the only frontline spin-bowling option in the squad apart from stand-in captain Michael Bracewell.
Sodhi’s recent form is also encouraging: he picked up nine wickets in 12 Super Smash matches at an economy rate of 7.00, which was second only to Jamieson among all bowlers who had bowled at least 20 overs in the competition.
“Look, I think in India, you’re going to be playing two or three spinners,” Wells said.
“And you see Ish come back into it. I think most teams are playing a wrist spinner in both forms. So, we’re giving Ish an opportunity. He’s been a great performer in the T20 format. I thought he had a really strong Super Smash. But obviously, missing Mitch, who’s a bit of a linchpin in the bowling attacks.
“So, that’ll be a challenge for Ish and Michael to really step up and take those roles if given a chance. But obviously, the boundaries are pretty small in New Zealand grounds and not taking as much turn. So, we might see an additional seamer playing where we think that’s appropriate. But it’s just about having that balance where we can.”
Wells also delivered a glowing appraisal of Bracewell’s abilities as an allrounder and leader.
“Michael led the T20 side over in Pakistan last year in the series we had over there and it was quite a young and experienced side and we were really impressed with the way he led that group,” Wells said.
“He sort of cemented himself in both white-ball teams as a really pivotal cog. He’s experienced at domestic level, having been a captain in the side, and is well respected and knows how to run the cutter really well. So, look, he’s ticked a lot of boxes. He hasn’t got a huge amount of international experience but is an experienced cricketer and has done well when given opportunities in a leadership role.”
New Zealand have rested a majority of their T20 regulars for the home series against Pakistan with the IPL around the corner. The series, comprising five T20Is, begins March 16 while the IPL begins March 22. Michael Bracewell, who was one of the main performers for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, will lead the side in the absence of Mitchell Santner.