Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Michael Bracewell highlights the Blackcaps 20-man squad for their upcoming tour of England.
Following an impressive summer season, Bracewell has received a maiden call-up to the NZ test squad.
The 31-year-old earned his first one-day international cap in February and impressed in his debut series against the Netherlands.
Canterbury wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher and Central Stags paceman Blair Tickner will also embark on their first tour with the test squad.
With the five Blackcaps at the Indian Premier League unlikely to be available for the two warm-up matches at Hove (May 20-23) and at Chlemsford (May 26-29), the initial squad of 20 will be reduced to 15 before the three tests against England, the first beginning at Lord's on June 2.
Along with valuable ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line, the tour will also mark a year on from the Blackcaps' historic away test series victory over England, followed by their victory over India in the inaugural WTC Final at Southampton.
Of the 15 players from the world final squad, 13 will return to England, after the retirements of Blackcaps great Ross Taylor and wicketkeeper BJ Watling.
Experienced Otago Volts pair of batsman Hamish Rutherford and swing bowler Jacob Duffy have been included, while spinning all-rounder Rachin Ravindra also returns.
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead says it's exciting to embark on another important period of cricket.
"It's going to be a busy winter, but one we're looking to embrace as a group," he said. "We've seen, in recent times, the need to be flexible with squads, schedules and staffing - and this winter will be no different.
"The red-ball tour of England first up is clearly high on our priority list and we're looking forward to hitting the ground running over there in a couple of weeks' time.
"Touring England is always a special occasion, with the people, the grounds and the history all making for a wonderful experience."
Stead says the tour of England will be "tough", but is excited to give Fletcher and Bracewell an opportunity.
"There's a reason we've only ever won a couple of test series over there and we know we'll have to be at our very best to do it again," he said. "It's an exciting time, in particular, for Michael and Cam, who will be heading away with the Blackcaps for the first time.
"They had a taste of the environment this summer, and I'm sure they'll be looking forward to the opportunity of touring with the side and all the extra things that entails."
With five players away at the IPL and a couple more - Will Young at Northamptonshire and Colin de Grandhomme at Surrey - playing county cricket - Stead needs to transition several players into the squad before the series.
"All going to plan, we will have everyone fit and available for the first test at Lord's and aim to announce our final squad of 15 for that series once we've completed our warm-up games."
With such a prolonged schedule away from home, the welfare and well-being of players and staff will again be paramount.
"Last season, I thought we juggled our resources really well to ensure the welfare of our people was prioritised, and we'll be looking to do that again with the white ball cricket in July and August," Stead said.
"That means no players or staff will stay with the side for the entire 14 weeks while we're away, as we balance the workloads.
"The ICC T20 World Cup in Australia is only six months away, and we'll continue to also prioritise as much planning and preparation for that as possible."
The Blackcaps will play a three-ODI and three-T20 series in Ireland, two T20s and an ODI against Scotland in July, and two T20s against the Netherlands in early August.
Immdiately afterwards, they face a tour to the West Indies, with three T20s and three ODIs, with the final touring squads and coaching groups to be confirmed closer to the time.
Blackcaps squad for England Tour
Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Colin de Grandhomme, Jacob Duffy, Cameron Fletcher, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Will Young
