From 2015 heartbreak to 2028 dream: Adam Milne's home World Cup mission

If someone was to ask “who’s the longest-serving active New Zealand cricketer?”, the answer might surprise you.

After the retirements of Kane Williamson, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine earlier this year, no player has worn the silver fern for longer than Adam Milne.

However, since his international debut on Boxing Day 2010, the now 34-year-old has been limited to just 106 matches in a Black Caps career approaching its 16-year anniversary, all in white-ball cricket.

While injuries are par for the course for any fast bowler, Milne’s share of luck has seemed worse than his contemporaries.

Amid the golden era of New Zealand cricket in the 2010s, he didn’t play a game between 2019 and 2021, thanks to a combination of injury and overseas franchise commitments.

But now he is in line to play his first game for the Black Caps on home soil since February 2024 and Milne emphasises that turning out for New Zealand is something he’d never say no to.

“[It’s been] up and down, it’s been tough at times to come in and out of the side,” he reflected.

Black Cap Adam Milne bowls against Bangladesh in 2023. Photo / Photosport

“I’m proud of the resilience that I’ve shown to keep coming back and making the teams. It’s always an honour to represent your country and be part of this team.

“That’s always what I look forward to.”

Considering his status as a casually contracted player, able to prioritise franchise Twenty20s over international cricket, Milne has the right to make himself available for New Zealand when it suits him.

With what’s to come in the next two years, though, wearing the silver fern will take on a much more central role.

By his own admission, the home 2015 World Cup – of which he played every game until picking up an injury for the semi-final thriller against South Africa – stands out as Milne’s career highlight.

Of the squad who turned out in that 2015 tournament, only Tom Latham and Matt Henry join Milne as still playing internationally.

While it’s premature to aim for a spot at next year’s World Cup in South Africa, his status as a T20 specialist, having not played a One-Day International since November 2024, could count against him.

After that, though, the 2028 T20 World Cup – co-hosted by New Zealand – will give the Black Caps the chance to emulate the 2015 side, albeit wanting to go one better than losing the decider to Australia.

Adam Milne: "I’m taking each game as it comes at the moment." Photo / Photosport

Given his record of 65 wickets from 56 T20s for the Black Caps, at an average of just under 25, in combination with his pace and skill, Milne would be close to an automatic selection, if fit.

“I’m taking each game as it comes at the moment, with the age and the injuries,” he professed.

“But there’s always that lure of something in the future you want to be part of. I want to play as much as I can for New Zealand, whilst making the most of the opportunities I have in franchise cricket as well.

“It feels so far away, but having experienced that 2015 World Cup, that was some of the most amazing cricket in my life, with how well we were supported, how we got on that roll through that World Cup and the feeling of New Zealand getting right in behind the team was amazing.

“When you look at the progression of that World Cup to how the team’s supported now, it’s only continued to go up. I’d love to see what that will look like in 2028.”

Away from the international game, Milne is also qualified to lead New Zealand’s cricketers into the future of the sport.

At present, New Zealand Cricket is working to finalise the future of the domestic competition, but has signalled its intention to back NZ20 – a privately funded franchise T20 competition.

With spells playing in close to every franchise league on the calendar, including in Australia, India, England, South Africa and even the UAE and the US, Milne is no stranger to the opportunities franchise cricket brings.

And considering the benefits he’s had from travelling the world as a gun for hire, Milne makes no secret of what a franchise model could do for the game in New Zealand.

“There’s still a lot to go on with that,” Milne said. “But any New Zealand cricketer would love to have franchise cricket at home. At the moment, it’s status quo, but we’d love to have the NZ20 competition.

Adam Milne celebrates the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan. Photo / Photosport

“I’ve been offered the chance to play with many different world-class players around the world, learn new skills and get to travel the world and play cricket.

“When little Adam was growing up, he wouldn’t have dreamed of being able to play in India, England or South Africa.

“To go to these countries and play a game that I love playing and represent these teams around the world has been pretty cool.”

Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.