New Zealand tour of West Indies, 2026 kicks off on July 11 with a five-match ODI series between Guyana and Barbados.
Mitchell Santner captains a reshuffled Black Caps squad, while Shai Hope leads West Indies at home.
Both sides have the 2027 Cricket World Cup on their radar. This guide covers the full schedule, squads, head-to-head stats, key players, and broadcast info for the WI vs NZ 2026 ODI series.
New Zealand Tour of West Indies 2026 Full Schedule
The tour runs from July 11 to July 21, 2026, featuring five day-night ODIs across two Caribbean venues.
Originally, the ICC Future Tours Programme listed this as a 3 ODI + 3 T20I tour.
However, Cricket West Indies (CWI) and NZ Cricket revised it to five ODIs after talks with the Guyana and Barbados governments.
Guyana gets the first three matches, while Barbados closes the series. Here is the complete fixture list:
| Match | Date | Venue | Start Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI | Sat, July 11 | Guyana National Stadium, Providence | 2:30 PM (6:30 PM GMT) |
| 2nd ODI | Mon, July 13 | Guyana National Stadium, Providence | 2:30 PM (6:30 PM GMT) |
| 3rd ODI | Thu, July 16 | Guyana National Stadium, Providence | 2:30 PM (6:30 PM GMT) |
| 4th ODI | Sun, July 19 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | 2:30 PM (6:30 PM GMT) |
| 5th ODI | Tue, July 21 | Kensington Oval, Bridgetown | 2:30 PM (6:30 PM GMT) |
New Zealand Squad for West Indies ODI Tour 2026
NZ Cricket named a 16-member ODI squad on July 1, headlined by Jacob Duffy’s return and Matthew Fisher’s maiden call-up.
On July 2, Ben Sears withdrew due to an ankle injury. Left-arm seamer Ben Lister took his spot.
| Player | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner (c) | Spin All-rounder | Captain, left-arm orthodox |
| Tom Latham (wk) | WK-Batter | Named wicketkeeper for this tour |
| Mitchell Hay (wk) | WK-Batter | Backup keeper option |
| Daryl Mitchell | Top-order Batter | ICC No. 3 ODI batter (766 rating) |
| Will Young | Top-order Batter | Experienced opener |
| Henry Nicholls | Middle-order Batter | Veteran left-hander |
| Mark Chapman | Middle-order Batter | Scored 64 in 3rd ODI vs WI, Nov 2025 |
| Nick Kelly | Batter | Strong domestic run-scorer |
| Michael Bracewell | All-rounder | Off-spin; 250+ international caps |
| Dean Foxcroft | All-rounder | Additional spin option |
| Jayden Lennox | All-rounder | Retained after debut vs India; 3rd overseas tour |
| Jacob Duffy | Fast Bowler | Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner; back from paternity leave |
| Nathan Smith | Fast Bowler | Player of the Series vs England Tests (June 2026) |
| Kristian Clarke | Fast Bowler | Seam-bowling all-rounder |
| Matthew Fisher | Fast Bowler | Maiden ODI call-up; 43 wkts in 25 List A matches (avg 26) |
| Ben Lister | Fast Bowler | Left-arm seamer; replaced injured Ben Sears |
Why Are So Many NZ Stars Missing?
Short answer: workload management after a packed 2026 season. NZ Cricket rested their frontline quicks and granted leave to others.
- Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke : Rested after the England Test series
- Blair Tickner : Undergoing ankle surgery
- Devon Conway : On family leave (second child born during England tour)
- Rachin Ravindra : Granted time off for Major League Cricket
- Finn Allen, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips : Not in the ODI plans for this tour
NZ head coach Rob Walter sees this as a chance to test depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
West Indies Likely Squad for NZ ODI Series 2026
CWI has not yet announced the official squad for this series as of July 6, 2026.
The Windies are wrapping up their home Test series against Sri Lanka. So the squad announcement will follow shortly.
Their most recent ODI squad, picked for the Sri Lanka home ODIs in June 2026, gives us a strong indicator of the likely selection:
| Player | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Hope (c, wk) | WK-Batter | ICC No. 8 ODI batter (701 rating) |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Middle-order Batter | T20 WC 2026 star: 248 runs, SR 186.46 |
| Keacy Carty | Top-order Batter | Reliable domestic performer |
| John Campbell | Opener | Left-hander recalled for ODIs |
| Roston Chase | All-rounder | Off-spin plus middle-order runs |
| Justin Greaves | All-rounder | Middle-order depth |
| Amir Jangoo | Batter | Exciting young prospect |
| Sherfane Rutherford | Power-hitter | Aggressive middle-order bat |
| Ackeem Auguste | Top-order Batter | 22-year-old rising talent |
| Alzarri Joseph | Fast Bowler | Back from back injury (out since July 2025) |
| Shamar Joseph | Fast Bowler | Express pace; workload managed |
| Jayden Seales | Fast Bowler | Swing and seam specialist |
| Matthew Forde | Fast Bowler | 6 wickets in NZ tour 2025 |
| Gudakesh Motie | Spinner | Left-arm orthodox; 4/28 vs ZIM in T20 WC 2026 |
| Shamar Springer | All-rounder | Pace-bowling depth |
Head coach Daren Sammy continues at the helm. The final squad may have tweaks based on the Sri Lanka Test outcomes.
WI vs NZ Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
This rivalry is almost 50 years old. New Zealand narrowly lead the overall record, but the margins are razor-thin.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total ODI Matches | 71 |
| New Zealand Wins | 33 |
| West Indies Wins | 31 |
| No Result | 7 |
| NZ Win % | 51.56% |
| First ODI Meeting | 1975 World Cup Semi-Final (June 18, 1975) |
| Last ODI Meeting | 3rd ODI, Nov 22, 2025 (Hamilton, NZ) |
How Did Their Last ODI Series Go? (November 2025)
New Zealand swept the series 3-0 when the West Indies toured NZ in November 2025. Here is a quick snapshot:
- 1st ODI (Christchurch): NZ won by 7 runs. Daryl Mitchell smashed 119 off 118 balls.
- 2nd ODI (Napier): NZ chased down 248 despite Shai Hope’s unbeaten 109 off 69 balls. Santner sealed it with 34 off 15.
- 3rd ODI (Hamilton): NZ won by 4 wickets. Matt Henry grabbed 4/43; Mark Chapman scored a punchy 64.
That sweep stretched NZ’s home bilateral ODI series winning streak to 11, second only to South Africa’s 17.
But here is the twist. Playing in the Caribbean is a different ball game altogether. West Indies have won their last four home ODI series since 2023.
Home advantage, Caribbean conditions, and a noisy crowd could flip the script this time around.
Why This Series Carries Serious Weight
Both teams need something specific from this series, and that makes it more than just a summer filler on the FTP calendar.
For New Zealand: Building World Cup Depth
The Black Caps have had a terrific 2026. They reached the T20 World Cup 2026 final in March, where India beat them.
Then in June, they won the Test series in England 2-1, coming from behind to claim the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy for the first time.
With seven frontline players unavailable, this Caribbean tour is essentially a trial run for fringe players.
Can the likes of Matthew Fisher and Nick Kelly stake their claims before the 2027 World Cup in South Africa?
For West Indies: World Cup Qualification on the Line
West Indies sit 10th in ICC ODI rankings with a rating of 74. That is outside the automatic World Cup qualification zone.
| Rank | Team | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | India | 118 |
| 2nd | New Zealand | 113 |
| 3rd | South Africa | 102 |
| 10th | West Indies | 74 |
Only the top eight teams, plus hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, qualify directly for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Beating a second-ranked side at home could give the Windies a crucial rankings push. Five ODIs means plenty of points up for grabs.
Key Players to Watch in WI vs NZ 2026
Every series has its matchwinners. Here are the players who could shape this contest.
| Team | Player | Role & Recent Form / Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Daryl Mitchell | Batting Anchor: Ranked 3rd in ICC ODI batting rankings (766 rating; briefly held No. 1). Key Performance: Scored 119 against the West Indies in Christchurch (Nov 2025). |
| Mitchell Santner | All-Rounder & Captain: Frontline spinner and clutch finisher. Key Performance: Smashed 34 off 15 balls in a successful 248-run chase in Napier. | |
| Jacob Duffy | Seam Bowler: Returning to the squad; winner of NZ Cricket’s prestigious Sir Richard Hadlee Medal. | |
| Matthew Fisher | Potential Debutant: List A record of 43 wickets in 25 matches at an average of 26.00. | |
| West Indies | Shai Hope | Batting Mainstay: Crossed 6,000 ODI runs in Nov 2025. Only Viv Richards reached this milestone faster for the West Indies. |
| Shimron Hetmyer | Power Hitter: Dominant in the T20 World Cup 2026 with 248 runs, a 186.46 strike rate, and a tournament-record 19 sixes. | |
| Alzarri Joseph | Express Pacer: Returning from a back injury (out since July 2025); brings high pace and bounce. | |
| Gudakesh Motie | Left-Arm Spinner: Highly effective on gripping home tracks. Recently took 4/28 against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026. |
Venue Guide: Providence Stadium and Kensington Oval
Two iconic Caribbean venues will host this series. Conditions at each ground could influence the outcome.
Guyana National Stadium, Providence (ODIs 1-3)
Providence Stadium in Georgetown has hosted matches across the 2007, 2010, and 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Capacity is roughly 15,000.
Early on, Guyana’s conditions tend to favour pace and seam. The ball moves through the air with humidity.
As the match progresses, the pitch flattens out and batting becomes easier. The toss could play a decisive role here.
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown (ODIs 4-5)
The legendary Kensington Oval hosted the 2007 World Cup final. It seats around 28,000 and buzzes with Caribbean energy.
Barbados usually offers a balanced wicket with true pace and bounce. Batters who trust their technique tend to score big here.
Shorter square boundaries make it a playground for aggressive stroke-play. Expect fireworks if Hetmyer bats here.
Quick Form Guide: NZ vs WI Going Into the Series
Here is a side-by-side look at how both teams arrive into this series:
| New Zealand | West Indies |
|---|---|
| Won Test series in England 2-1 (June 2026) | Hosting Sri Lanka in Tests (June-July 2026) |
| T20 World Cup 2026 runners-up | T20 World Cup 2026: Super 8 stage exit |
| Swept WI 3-0 in ODIs at home (Nov 2025) | Won last 4 home ODI series since 2023 |
| ICC ODI Ranking: 2nd (113) | ICC ODI Ranking: 10th (74) |
| 7 frontline players resting or unavailable | Expected to field near full-strength at home |
| Coach: Rob Walter | Coach: Daren Sammy |
Where to Watch WI vs NZ 2026 Live Streaming and Broadcast
Amazon Prime Video holds the streaming rights for this series in several markets, including North America and the Caribbean.
Fans in India should check FanCode or JioCinema, as West Indies home series rights have recently rotated between these platforms.
In New Zealand, Sky Sport NZ typically carries international cricket. We recommend checking the official broadcaster pages closer to July 11 for final confirmation.
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Conclusion: A Caribbean Showdown With Real Stakes
The New Zealand tour of West Indies, 2026 is a five-match ODI series that carries weight for both sides.
NZ are testing their bench strength in challenging conditions. West Indies need to beat a top-two team at home to boost their 2027 World Cup qualification chances.
Caribbean pitches, a pumped-up home crowd, and rankings points on the line. This one promises to be a cracker.
