Auckland ACES left arm medium-fast bowler Ben Lister has been selected for the BLACKCAPS T20 tour of India later this month.

27-year old Lister has been a mainstay in Auckland’s bowling arsenal since his debut in 2017-18, taking over 150 wickets across formats.

He’s been in solid form for the ACES for the last two seasons, particularly in T20 cricket and was named Auckland Cricket Men’s Bowler of the Year at the end of last season. This season Lister has picked up 5 wickets in three Super Smash matches so far, at an average of 18.4.

Auckland Cricket’s Director of Talent and Performance Daniel Archer sees Ben’s call-up as due reward for his hard work over the last few seasons: “Opportunities such as this do not just come about overnight. Ben has been a consistent performer for Auckland for a long period now and we are all extremely proud of his call up to international level.

“It is fantastic reward for many years of hard work, and I know that his attitude and personality will be very welcomed by all within the BLACKCAPS environment. We wholeheartedly congratulate him and wish him all the best for the tour of India,” says Archer.

The BLACKCAPS take on India in three ODIs before Ben Lister joins the squad ahead of the first T20 in Ranchi on January 27.