Michael Bracewell

The latest member of the Bracewell dynasty to represent New Zealand, Michael made a late introduction to international cricket when he was handed his ODI cap in 2022, playing three times against Netherlands. He was subsequently included in New Zealand's squad for their Test tour of England, and won a debut at Trent Bridge after the captain, Kane Williamson, was ruled out by a positive Covid test on the eve of the match.

Bracewell played alongside his cousin Doug at the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, but spent the next decade plying his trade at domestic level. In 2020-21, he made 725 runs with four hundreds - one of them for New Zealand A - and the following summer he was the leading run-scorer in the T20 Super Smash, which resulted in a maiden senior call-up for the Netherlands tour.

Nephew of former internationals John and Brendon, and son of Otago first-class cricketer Mark, it should be no surprise that Michael began playing cricket when he was five. He started out like his hero Adam Gilchrist, as a left-hand top-order wicketkeeper-batter, before developing his offspin as a useful second string later in his career.
ESPNcricinfo staff