New Zealand have included uncapped Canterbury batter Rhys Mariu in their three-match ODI series against Pakistan.
New Zealand will host Pakistan for three ODIs, at Napier on March 29 and April 2, and at Mount Maunganui on April 5. They named the squad for the series on March 25 without captain Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Glenn Phillips, all of whom are undergoing IPL commitments, and the injured Matt Henry. Tom Latham had been named captain for the series.
However, Latham has now been ruled out with a fractured hand. Henry Nicholls will replace him in the squad, while Mitch Hay will assume wicketkeeping duties. Additionally, Will Young will miss the last two game to be with his family as they are awaiting the birth of their first child. The uncapped Mariu has been added to the squad as cover.
New Zealand squad for Pakistan ODIs
Michael Bracewell (c), Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay, Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Henry Nicholls, Will Young (first ODI), Rhys Mariu (second and third ODIs).
Who is Rhys Mariu?
From 12 List A games, Canterbury’s Mariu has only 328 runs at 27.33. Neither of his two fifties is a hundred. While his last four innings read 87, 63, 23, and 44, the overall numbers are far from impressive. However, he has carved a niche for himself in first-class cricket: his 1,420 runs have come at 61.73 – exceptional by any standards.
Mariu debuted in the 2022/23 Plunket Shield with 68 and 78 not out against Northern Districts. He finished that season with 112 and 66 against Wellington, and began 2023/24 with 145 against the same opposition. But even that paled into comparison when pitted against his 2024/25 numbers – 240 and 8 not out against Central Districts, 185 against Auckland (he led Canterbury in both matches), and 87 and 70 against Otago.
This season, Mariu’s 731 runs (at 81.22) are behind only Kelly’s 749 (at 57.61). The uncapped Kelly is also part of the same squad.
