CricRadio
Devon Conway has expressed his delight at returning to New Zealand’s T20I squad after over a year on the sidelines, following his last appearance at the 2024 T20 World Cup. After opting out of a central contract earlier this year, Conway was initially left out of the touring squad to Zimbabwe, but an injury to Finn Allen created an opening, which he has seized with enthusiasm and strong performances.
Speaking after New Zealand's emphatic eight-wicket win over Zimbabwe, where he top-scored with an unbeaten 59, Conway described his comeback as “great” and said it was a pleasure to reunite with teammates and contribute meaningfully to the side’s success. His half-century helped New Zealand chase down a modest target of 121 and secure their second win of the tri-series, placing them at the top of the points table.
“It’s been a while, so just getting the call-up to come back into the squad is fantastic,” Conway said in the post-match press conference. “Obviously Finn Allen’s injury is unfortunate, but for me, it’s nice to get that opportunity again and see some familiar faces.”
Despite leading the scoring, Conway admitted he initially struggled at the crease, particularly against the bounce extracted by Zimbabwe’s seamers. He survived early chances, including a dropped catch when on 1, and a couple of mistimed pull shots. He credited the bowling of left-armer Richard Ngarava for making the early exchanges difficult on a lively surface, which offered more bounce than expected.
“There was a lot of steep bounce, especially from their left-armer Ngarava,” Conway noted. “It made life tricky in the powerplay, but thankfully we only had to chase 121. Once we settled, the game became more manageable.”
This match marked Conway’s first outing under new head coach Rob Walter, who recently took over the all-format role for New Zealand after leaving South Africa’s white-ball setup. While Conway has not commented on his long-term availability or participation in upcoming World Cups, he praised Walter’s energy and tactical clarity.
“He’s brought a positive mindset and some fresh thinking around T20 cricket,” Conway said. “It’s been enjoyable working with him so far. He’s encouraging us to think differently and play with intent.”
New Zealand, now two from two in the tri-series, look set for a place in the final. Their next challenge comes against South Africa on Tuesday, where Conway will again face the threat of young left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka—who had earlier troubled him with steep bounce.
With his form returning and confidence growing, Conway’s timely resurgence could be pivotal as New Zealand build momentum in the lead-up to future global tournaments.