New Zealand player Michael Bracewell Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
It's been a while between drinks for Michael Bracewell who is hoping to play Test match cricket again.
Bracewell stayed in Zimbabwe with the Black Caps squad following their T20 Tri-Series victory.
Initially just named for the T20 games, the 34 year old allrounder was added to the Test squad for the first game against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo this week following the injury to Glenn Phillips.
Bracewell has played just eight tests, his last was against Sri Lanka in early 2023.
If he is named in the eleven then it is likely to be as a batting allrounder.
"We've got great depth particularly in the spin bowling department so I'm under no illusion that it is tough to force your way in there," Bracewell said.
"But when you get an opportunity like this you want to take it with both hands."
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
With just four days between the T20 series and the first Test, Bracewell said it was important to keep things simple.
"It's a pretty quick turnaround and so regardless of the format you're just trying to keep the basics of the game really simple.
"Going to Test cricket you want to nail down the fundamentals of the game of getting into strong positions when you're batting and trying to be repeatable as you can with the ball.
"It's probably keeping things simpler than you do in T20 cricket and it's exciting and a great challenge."
Bracewell has become a white ball regular in the Black Caps squad in recent years, having played 36 T20 internationals and 34 ODI's.
Following the first Test Bracewell will head to England to play for the Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Test series, Queen Sports Club, Bulawayo
First Test: 30 July- 3 August
Second Test: 7-11 August
Black Caps test squad
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Fisher, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Michael Bracewell (first Test only), Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Nathan Smith, Will Young.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
