September 17, 2025 • 8 mins
Today, the Black Caps named their squad for the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee T20I series against Australia that gets underway on October 1st.
Regular short form captain Mitch Santner was unable to reach match fitness before the series began so Michael Bracewell has been named the captain of the side who will compete in three T20 internationals at the Bay Oval in Tauranga.
D'Arcy spoke with Michael after the squad naming to talk about the series.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going to talk a wee bit of crack at
the Black captain and his squad for the upcoming Chapel
Hadley T twenty ice series. The captain is Michael the
Beast Bracewell. He joins us.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Now, Hey Michael, Hey, hey, Darcy, how you have very well?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You're the captain again. How are you going?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah? Pretty good? Thanks. It's an exciting time.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, exciting time. It's something you'll have to hand back
eventually to Santana. But you don't think like that, do
you in getting this role.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
No, it's obviously it's disappointing to not have him involved
in the series. Is he's a great leader and also
offers a lot on the field with his bowling and
batting and fielding. So he'll be sorely mister around the
group and on the field. But yeah, hopefully we can
all sort of muck in and make the most of it.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
What kind of experience if you had actually working with
him in a captain cy role, like off the phone calls,
what you've learned from him and he's pushing the team
around what have you picked up predominantly.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah. First of all, he just keeps things very simple
and very calm. I think he instills a lot of
confidence in the guys to just go out and play
their natural game and particularly in twenty twenty, taking the
game on and being brave. So yeah, hopefully I can
instill that in the guys and we can continue to
play a similar brand as what we play under.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Mitch lead from the front. So you'll be doing exactly
the same thing. Dare I say ball to the fall?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, I'll be bowling left arm orthodox this series to
train any of that haven't there. It's yeah, as I said,
it is hard to replace his skill set. He's a
world class operator. So yeah, we're all sort of going
to have to muck in and try and fill that
void that he leaves behind.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It's a crazy way to start the season. They talk
about the summer of cricket, it's the spring of cricket.
Now it's extraordinary. First week of October a three T
twenty I series against the Australi Aliens. You wouldn't read
about it, would you, Michael?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah? No, I was down in Queenstown this weekend and
it was certainly felt a long way away from the
summer down there. It was pretty cold and a bit
of snow and sleet around. But yeah, thankfully we're up
in the North Island and the forever summer that is
no longer. So yeah, we're looking forward to getting it
getting up there as a group and getting stuck into
(02:29):
the Aussie.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's been twenty years since that first T twenty I
match versus Australians and New Zealands. You guys going to
rock out some pretty horrible haircuts like they did way
back then.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I don't know if we can pull off the haircuts
that they had. I don't know who can get an
Afro in our team. But yeah, I think the spirit
that that game was played in was particularly cool and
I don't think they could have forced on how twenty
twenty cricket was going to become. But I think that
the style that they went out and played and had
(03:03):
a lot of fun, and yeah it was that was
more of a sort of a festival style of cricket
game as the games is probably a little bit more
serious now that it's twenty years on, But yeah, hopefully
we can still enjoy ourselves like they did out.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
They In essence though, it is about joy and releasing
that inner child, if you will, and going out there
and having a cracking time, because that's what the energy
is around T twenty cricket. Plenty of strings. Do what
you feel is right. You've got a short amount of
time out there, so I suppose embrace that joy and
that pleasure a playing cricket.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Michael, Yeah, absolutely, it's you'd probably say it's a bit
of a gateway to the other formats, so you want
it to be nice and entertaining for the fans that
show up. So yeah, some of the other formats take
a little bit longer and perhaps don't have the action
that's packed into a twenty twenty, So yeah, you want to. Ultimately,
we're out there to entertain and put on a good
(03:57):
show for the fans, and I know that fans love winning,
so we're certainly trying to do that. But as you say,
it's about, yeah, making sure that we're being as entertaining
as we can as cricketers.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Michael Bracewell beast It joins us captain for the T
twenty ice series being played in the Bay all three
games of the space of the first week in October.
I've read a couple of reports from elsewhere saying that
you're captaining a depleted side. Now I take umbrage with that,
because the strength of New Zealand cricket of recent times
(04:27):
has been its ability to select a number of different
players and go deep. I'd hardly call it depleted. It
came Williamson's not there. But this is a crash hot team,
is it not, even without your injured players.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah. I think it speaks to the volume of depth
that we have in the country that we can put
out a very quality side like we have and still
have a number of injuries as well. I think, yeah,
you look at the guys that are coming back Sears
and Jamison after an injury layoff for both of those guys,
and that, yeah, they're obviously wearing to go. And yeah,
(05:02):
whenever we put a side together, we're always going out
there and trying to put our foot forward for the country.
So we're certainly not thinking that we're a depleted side,
and yeah, we're going out there to beat whatever team
we come up against.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Good news for the bat Bevan Jacobs, he's stuck in
his spot. What do you pick up forty odd against
some Babwe and debut, So the stakes have risen somewhat
with all jurispectors in Babwe up against the Australians. But
from what you've seen of him, how do you feel
he will go against arguably the best HE twenty team
in the world.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, he's an immense talent and plays some amazing innings
and ridiculous shots. So yeah, he's certainly got all the
skills to go up there and take them on. And
I think that's the way. We're going to have to
play fire with fire a little bit. And he's had
some experiences around the world playing in the IPL squads
and a little bit of franchise cricket and then obviously
(05:56):
making his New Zealand debut, so I'm sure he'll put
all those experiences to good use and be a threat
for us in the middle. Lad of there.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Devin Conway still there. Devin's had a kind of an
up and down time over the last couple of years,
so pleasing in his respect. You've got Darryl Mitchill, We've
got Chen Revendra. These guys didn't come down in the
last shower. These your experience, don't tell me there's depletion anywhere.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, and you add Tim Seifert into that mix as well,
who's been playing some great cricket in the last couple
of years as well. So yeah, as you say, there
is a couple of injuries there, but we're certainly backing
ourselves to go out and put some good performances on
the board.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Tim Sipett's been doing some crazy things and the timing
of the CPL is great for us. We can watch
them just lay waste everybody. Hey, let's not forget Mark Chapman.
He's up there as well. I think selecting the eleven
out of that group is probably going to be quite difficult.
Do you have much important to that?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
It'll be interesting to see how that goes. I think
a lot of it will be sort of with a
little bit of an eye on the world carpet as well.
And I haven't been privy to those conversations yet, but now, yeah,
you have a little bit of a leadership role you
you might get a little bit of a sneak peek
into how all that operates. But yeah, it's it's a
fantastic series in itself, but also add the context of
(07:16):
a World Cup at the start of next year. It
sort of adds a little bit more context as well,
which is very cool.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I feel rude in not mentioning a couple of the
other men that are in there as well. Tim Robinson
is one and each Sody the evergreen, Each Sody he
just won't stopping it better and better, doesn't.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
He is in that try series that we recently played.
He has been working on bowling in the power play,
which offers us some different options if we've played less
seemas or things like that. So it's yeah, it's great
to see him obviously having been around for a number
of games. I think he's played over one hundred and
to twenty internationals, so to see him still advancing his
(07:57):
game and trying to get better as amazing with what
he's done in the twenty twenty format in particular. So yeah,
when you've got guys like that that are continually to
evolve and improve, it's inspirational to everyone in the group.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
ze B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
We're going to talk a wee bit of crack at
the Black captain and his squad for the upcoming Chapel
Hadley T twenty ice series. The captain is Michael the
Beast Bracewell. He joins us.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Now, Hey Michael, Hey, hey, Darcy, how you have very well?
Speaker 2 (00:28):
You're the captain again. How are you going?
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Yeah? Pretty good? Thanks. It's an exciting time.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, exciting time. It's something you'll have to hand back
eventually to Santana. But you don't think like that, do
you in getting this role.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
No, it's obviously it's disappointing to not have him involved
in the series. Is he's a great leader and also
offers a lot on the field with his bowling and
batting and fielding. So he'll be sorely mister around the
group and on the field. But yeah, hopefully we can
all sort of muck in and make the most of it.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
What kind of experience if you had actually working with
him in a captain cy role, like off the phone calls,
what you've learned from him and he's pushing the team
around what have you picked up predominantly.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yeah. First of all, he just keeps things very simple
and very calm. I think he instills a lot of
confidence in the guys to just go out and play
their natural game and particularly in twenty twenty, taking the
game on and being brave. So yeah, hopefully I can
instill that in the guys and we can continue to
play a similar brand as what we play under.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
Mitch lead from the front. So you'll be doing exactly
the same thing. Dare I say ball to the fall?
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Yeah, I'll be bowling left arm orthodox this series to
train any of that haven't there. It's yeah, as I said,
it is hard to replace his skill set. He's a
world class operator. So yeah, we're all sort of going
to have to muck in and try and fill that
void that he leaves behind.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
It's a crazy way to start the season. They talk
about the summer of cricket, it's the spring of cricket.
Now it's extraordinary. First week of October a three T
twenty I series against the Australi Aliens. You wouldn't read
about it, would you, Michael?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah? No, I was down in Queenstown this weekend and
it was certainly felt a long way away from the
summer down there. It was pretty cold and a bit
of snow and sleet around. But yeah, thankfully we're up
in the North Island and the forever summer that is
no longer. So yeah, we're looking forward to getting it
getting up there as a group and getting stuck into
(02:29):
the Aussie.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
It's been twenty years since that first T twenty I
match versus Australians and New Zealands. You guys going to
rock out some pretty horrible haircuts like they did way
back then.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
I don't know if we can pull off the haircuts
that they had. I don't know who can get an
Afro in our team. But yeah, I think the spirit
that that game was played in was particularly cool and
I don't think they could have forced on how twenty
twenty cricket was going to become. But I think that
the style that they went out and played and had
(03:03):
a lot of fun, and yeah it was that was
more of a sort of a festival style of cricket
game as the games is probably a little bit more
serious now that it's twenty years on, But yeah, hopefully
we can still enjoy ourselves like they did out.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
They In essence though, it is about joy and releasing
that inner child, if you will, and going out there
and having a cracking time, because that's what the energy
is around T twenty cricket. Plenty of strings. Do what
you feel is right. You've got a short amount of
time out there, so I suppose embrace that joy and
that pleasure a playing cricket.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Michael, Yeah, absolutely, it's you'd probably say it's a bit
of a gateway to the other formats, so you want
it to be nice and entertaining for the fans that
show up. So yeah, some of the other formats take
a little bit longer and perhaps don't have the action
that's packed into a twenty twenty, So yeah, you want to. Ultimately,
we're out there to entertain and put on a good
(03:57):
show for the fans, and I know that fans love winning,
so we're certainly trying to do that. But as you say,
it's about, yeah, making sure that we're being as entertaining
as we can as cricketers.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Michael Bracewell beast It joins us captain for the T
twenty ice series being played in the Bay all three
games of the space of the first week in October.
I've read a couple of reports from elsewhere saying that
you're captaining a depleted side. Now I take umbrage with that,
because the strength of New Zealand cricket of recent times
(04:27):
has been its ability to select a number of different
players and go deep. I'd hardly call it depleted. It
came Williamson's not there. But this is a crash hot team,
is it not, even without your injured players.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Yeah. I think it speaks to the volume of depth
that we have in the country that we can put
out a very quality side like we have and still
have a number of injuries as well. I think, yeah,
you look at the guys that are coming back Sears
and Jamison after an injury layoff for both of those guys,
and that, yeah, they're obviously wearing to go. And yeah,
(05:02):
whenever we put a side together, we're always going out
there and trying to put our foot forward for the country.
So we're certainly not thinking that we're a depleted side,
and yeah, we're going out there to beat whatever team
we come up against.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Good news for the bat Bevan Jacobs, he's stuck in
his spot. What do you pick up forty odd against
some Babwe and debut, So the stakes have risen somewhat
with all jurispectors in Babwe up against the Australians. But
from what you've seen of him, how do you feel
he will go against arguably the best HE twenty team
in the world.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, he's an immense talent and plays some amazing innings
and ridiculous shots. So yeah, he's certainly got all the
skills to go up there and take them on. And
I think that's the way. We're going to have to
play fire with fire a little bit. And he's had
some experiences around the world playing in the IPL squads
and a little bit of franchise cricket and then obviously
(05:56):
making his New Zealand debut, so I'm sure he'll put
all those experiences to good use and be a threat
for us in the middle. Lad of there.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Devin Conway still there. Devin's had a kind of an
up and down time over the last couple of years,
so pleasing in his respect. You've got Darryl Mitchill, We've
got Chen Revendra. These guys didn't come down in the
last shower. These your experience, don't tell me there's depletion anywhere.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Yeah, and you add Tim Seifert into that mix as well,
who's been playing some great cricket in the last couple
of years as well. So yeah, as you say, there
is a couple of injuries there, but we're certainly backing
ourselves to go out and put some good performances on
the board.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Tim Sipett's been doing some crazy things and the timing
of the CPL is great for us. We can watch
them just lay waste everybody. Hey, let's not forget Mark Chapman.
He's up there as well. I think selecting the eleven
out of that group is probably going to be quite difficult.
Do you have much important to that?
Speaker 3 (06:55):
It'll be interesting to see how that goes. I think
a lot of it will be sort of with a
little bit of an eye on the world carpet as well.
And I haven't been privy to those conversations yet, but now, yeah,
you have a little bit of a leadership role you
you might get a little bit of a sneak peek
into how all that operates. But yeah, it's it's a
fantastic series in itself, but also add the context of
(07:16):
a World Cup at the start of next year. It
sort of adds a little bit more context as well,
which is very cool.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I feel rude in not mentioning a couple of the
other men that are in there as well. Tim Robinson
is one and each Sody the evergreen, Each Sody he
just won't stopping it better and better, doesn't.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
He is in that try series that we recently played.
He has been working on bowling in the power play,
which offers us some different options if we've played less
seemas or things like that. So it's yeah, it's great
to see him obviously having been around for a number
of games. I think he's played over one hundred and
to twenty internationals, so to see him still advancing his
(07:57):
game and trying to get better as amazing with what
he's done in the twenty twenty format in particular. So yeah,
when you've got guys like that that are continually to
evolve and improve, it's inspirational to everyone in the group.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talk
ze B from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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