Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Seifert have been named in New Zealand’s extended 21-man squad for the five-match ODI series against India, which begins on November 4, 2026. The trio’s inclusion marks a notable return to the ODI setup after extended absences from the format.
Allen and Ferguson last appeared in ODI cricket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, while Seifert’s most recent ODI outing came 18 months ago against Pakistan. Allen is available only for the fourth and fifth matches of the series, with his participation in the opening three games ruled out.
Allen, who operates without a New Zealand Cricket central contract and has been on a casual arrangement for two years, has also signed a deal worth $740,000 per year with Melbourne Stars, making him the most expensive player in Big Bash League history.
Despite his high profile in franchise cricket, his ODI record across 22 matches shows an average of just under 27 with no centuries in the format. In T20 cricket, however, he has scored three centuries, the most recent of which came in a World Cup semi-final win over South Africa.
What has Allen said about his ODI return?
Allen has not featured in New Zealand’s ODI plans for several years, and his recall comes as the Black Caps look to assess their options ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. His T20 form has kept him prominent in the global franchise circuit, but the ODI format presents a different challenge. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter has hinted at using Allen in the middle order, potentially in a finishing role.
“It’s been a few years since being in the New Zealand side, I’m really looking forward to it. I love one-day cricket. It’ll be a bit of a change of mindset and something I’ll try to figure out over the next couple of weeks. I’d like to think I’ve come a long way, [when] you play a lot of high-level cricket around the world, you’d naturally hope you get better, the more exposed you get to international cricket too. The more experience [you have], you grow as a player, you understand your game a bit better. That’s even more important in one-day cricket,” Allen said, as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
On the question of filling the batting position left vacant by Kane Williamson’s retirement, Allen was measured.
“I don’t know if you can compare me and Kane, that’s pretty tough to live up to. But I suppose we’ll chat more about roles and what that will look like closer to the time,” he said.
What is the thinking behind the recalls of Ferguson and Seifert?
Ferguson and Seifert return alongside Allen as New Zealand cast a wider net ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle. Both players were prominent during the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, and their reintegration into the ODI squad reflects the selectors’ intent to reassess experienced options in the format. The squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs will also be led by Mitchell Santner, with a sizeable chunk of the Test contingent departing to prepare for the two-match red-ball series. Coach Rob Walter addressed the returns of Allen and Seifert together.
“[Allen] and Seif are the same, to be fair. They had an amazing World Cup in India. It’s very difficult to be a power player and take some risks, you’re going to have some disappointments through that time with it not working out. But credit to both of them, they’ve stuck to what they know best. I have no doubt that will carry through into the one-day game,” Walter said, via the aforementioned source.
