Jacobs selected for Black Caps T20 debut against Sri Lanka

Auckland batter Bevon Jacobs is eyeing a Black Caps debut in their three-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.

South Africa-born Jacobs, 22, was a surprise pick-up by Mumbai Indians in last month's Indian Premier League auction and has continued his rise with a maiden international call-up against the touring Lions, beginning Saturday at Mt Maunganui.

He got an early look at the visitors for the New Zealand XI, scoring 39 runs off 16 balls, including two fours and four sixes, at Christchurch on Monday, before joining the national squad for the international fixtures.

"It's obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family," said Blackcaps selector Sam Wells. "He's a promising player with a lot of talent and we're looking forward to exposing him to international cricket.

"He's clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he's also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament."

Rookies Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay and Tim Robinson may also make their first appearances on home soil, after debuting for the Black Caps in Sri Lanka last month.

Two 13-man squads have been selected for separate T20 and one-day series, with wicketkeeper Hay included in both, after claiming a men's record for dismissals — five catches and a stumping — in the shortest format at Dambulla.

Veterans Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry will also bolster the squads, with Tom Latham, Will Young and Will O'Rourke returning for the one-dayers.

Black Caps T20: Mitch Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith

Black Caps ODI: Santner (capt), Bracewell, Chapman, Duffy, Hay, Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Phillips, Ravindra, Smith, Will Young