New Zealand has decided to go with a spin heavy squad for the upcoming test series against India, as their premier fast bowler Trent Boult has withdrawn himself from the tour because of bio bubble exhaustion.
Trent Boult has played plenty of cricket away from home in recent times including the World Test Championship final, the IPL and the ongoing T20 World Cup, and he needs a break before the home season. New Zealand’s premier allrounder Colin de Grandhomme will also not be travelling to India for the same reason.
Two first choice spinners that New Zealand has picked for the India test series are Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville, while Mitchell Santner will most likely be filling the allrounder’s spot in the absence of Colin de Grandhomme.
Apart from three specialist spinners, New Zealand has gone with a couple of part-timers
The other spinners in the squad are Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips who are more of part-time bowlers than specialist spinners, but on the surfaces in India which will surely assist spin bowling, they can come into play as well, particularly on the 4th and 5th days of the test matches.
Glenn Phillips, who started his career as a wicketkeeper batsman, but has been bowling quite a bit in white ball cricket of late, has made a comeback to New Zealand’s test squad after a while. The right-hander had made his debut against Australia a couple of years back and although he had done well on debut, he didn’t get any further opportunities.
New Zealand veteran Ross Taylor, who was recently working as a consultant for Papua New Guinea in the T20 World Cup first round, is back in the national squad as well and is expected to bat at his usual position of no. 4. Tim Southee will lead New Zealand’s pace attack, with Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson being the other seamers.
Here is the squad New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced for the test series against India –
