The New Zealand cricket team have confirmed that wicket-keeper batter Tim Seifert has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies after suffering a fractured finger.
Seifert sustained the injury during a domestic match, retiring hurt and undergoing scans which revealed a break in his right index finger.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed his disappointment, emphasising how crucial Seifert is to the T20 setup both as a top-order batter and keeper.
“We’re all feeling for Tim,” Walter said in his official statement. “He’s a key member of this T20 unit given his power at the top of the order and his role as keeper, so he’ll be missed over the next five matches,” the coach added.
Who replaced Tim Seifert in New Zealand’s T20I squad?
In the wake of Seifert’s injury, New Zealand have brought in Mitch Hay to fill the vacancy. Hay, who already has experience in the T20 international arena, was selected for the series and joins the squad ahead of their first match on November 5 at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Coach Walter praised Hay’s ability, noting that the squad’s depth has enabled a ready replacement for Seifert’s absence. “We’re lucky to be able call on another player of his ability which shows the level of depth we currently have in the T20 format,” Walter said.
Seifert’s absence: Impact on the West Indies T20Is and New Zealand’s plans
Losing Seifert at this stage is a significant setback for New Zealand. With the T20 series against the West Indies seen as a key preparatory assignment ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, missing an experienced keeper-batter disrupts both the playing XI and strategy.
Meanwhile, other changes to the squad include the return of pacer Kyle Jamieson and spinner Ish Sodhi, while veteran pacer Matt Henry has been rested.
For Mitch Hay, this series presents a significant opportunity to cement his place in the squad and make an impact in the lead-up to the World Cup.
This injury-and-replacement development underlines how fluid international T20 preparations can be – one injury and the plans pivot quickly.
New Zealand’s update squad for West Indies T20Is
Mitchell Santner (captain), Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Mitch Hay (wicketkeeper), Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi.
