New Zealand include 5 spinning options in their 15-man squad for next month's sub-continent tours
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have announced the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and the two-match series against Sri Lanka next month. The 15-member squad includes five spinning options as the Kiwis gear up for a tough assignment in the sub-continent.
The five spinning options are Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips. Devon Conway, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell are the specialist batters in the squad; Will Young has been selected as an extra batting option.
Pace bowlers Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears, meanwhile, are set for their first overseas experience, while there was no spot for the experienced Trent Boult. O'Rourke and Sears made their Test debuts earlier this year against South Africa and Australia, respectively.
New Zealand will play the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Greater Noida from September 9-13, while the two Tests against Sri Lanka will take place on September 18 and 26 in Galle.
New Zealand Test squad: Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc), Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
"Test tours to the sub-continent can ask some really tough questions of pace bowlers" - New Zealand head coach
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead knows that the pace bowlers won't have an easy time in the heat and humidity of the sub-continent and that workload management will be critical, including that of the captain Tim Southee. Stead said, as quoted by nzc.nz:
"Test tours to the sub-continent can ask some really tough questions of pace bowlers due to the nature of the pitches and the heat and humidity. While we’re going over with an open mind around conditions, there is an understanding that all our bowling options may be needed across the different Tests. Tim and I have discussed this, and the need during these overseas tours to balance the work-loads of the pace-bowlers, including himself, to ensure the team is best served."
The Black Caps, inaugural World Test Champions (2021), are currently third in the standings behind India and Australia.