Kelly and Carter to lead young New Zealand A squad in South Africa
Ten New Zealand internationals have been named and will hope to further their credentials under coach Daniel Flynn
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Aug-2025 • 2 hrs ago
Nick Kelly will lead the white-ball side • Getty Images
Nick Kelly and Joe Carter will captain a young New Zealand A squad touring South Africa this month, with the team set to play three one-dayers and two four-day matches.
Kelly, who will take charge of the white-ball side, and Carter, set to lead in the red-ball fixtures, head a 15-player squad with an average age of just 25. The squad includes ten New Zealand internationals.
Among the most notable names are Muhammad Abbas, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Bevon Jacobs, and Rhys Mariu - all of whom have impressed on the international stage over the past six months.
Foulkes starred on Test debut in Zimbabwe, taking a record-breaking 9 for 75 - the best figures by a New Zealander on debut. Abbas set a record in March for the fastest half-century on ODI debut, smashing one in 26 balls against Pakistan.
Wicketkeeper-batter Hay was a regular feature in New Zealand's white-ball squads last summer, setting a T20I world record with six dismissals in a single innings and rescuing New Zealand with an unbeaten 99 in an ODI against Pakistan in Hamilton.
Jacobs and Mariu have both impressed in limited international appearances, with Jacobs hitting an unbeaten 44 on T20I debut and Mariu scoring an ODI fifty in just his second game.
Two changes have been made from the New Zealand A squad that toured Bangladesh earlier this year, with Jacobs and Test quick Matt Fisher coming in. Auckland pacer Simon Keene and Jacobs are the only players in the squad yet to appear for New Zealand A.
Keene, 22, has impressed in domestic cricket with a first-class century and three five-wicket hauls in just 21 matches for Auckland.
One player missing from the squad is Northern Districts allrounder Kristian Clarke, who was unavailable for selection after suffering a side strain during a recent New Zealand A camp.
The team will be coached by Northern Districts assistant coach Daniel Flynn, who takes on the head coach role for the first time. He will be supported by NZC high-performance coaches Bob Carter and Graeme Aldridge.
Flynn, a former international himself, is relishing the opportunity to lead a side filled with both emerging and established talent.
"It's an exciting blend," Flynn said. "We have guys who've already had a taste of international cricket, and experienced domestic cricketers who are trying to push their case for that next level. "
While development is a key focus, Flynn stressed that the team is also heading to South Africa with a strong emphasis on performance. "We're obviously going there to perform and win games of cricket," he said. "But we're also conscious of balancing that with the development of the guys and the opportunity the tour presents for them."
The squad departs for South Africa on August 24, with the tour set to begin on Saturday, August 30.
New Zealand A squad: Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Joe Carter (red-ball captain), Josh Clarkson, Matt Fisher, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Curtis Heaphy, Bevon Jacobs, Simon Keene, Nick Kelly (white-ball captain), Jayden Lennox, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Dale Phillips.