Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner could make his return to the New Zealand( NZ ) lineup for the second Test against England( ENG) in Wellington, following the Black Caps’ eight-wicket loss in the series opener. Coach Gary Stead, however, remains firm in backing his batting unit despite their recent struggles.
Santner, who last played Test cricket in India and took 13 wickets during a series sweep, has been included in the squad specifically for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton. His selection hinges on the spin-friendly nature of the Basin Reserve pitch, where spinners like Nathan Lyon have thrived in the past.
“That’s the likely big decision to make,” Stead said. “Mitch’s inclusion is based on what we’ve seen in Wellington previously, but we’ll finalize things after assessing the pitch.”
New Zealand’s seam-heavy attack in the first Test failed to deliver, with debutant Nathan Smith likely to make way for Mitchell Santner if conditions favor spin.
Dropped catches were a glaring issue for New Zealand in the Christchurch Test, but concerns also linger over the form of key batters. Opener Devon Conway has managed just 53 runs in his last five innings, while wicketkeeper Tom Blundell is also under scrutiny.
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Despite this, Stead dismissed any plans to alter the batting order or make squad changes. He voiced strong support for Blundell and Conway, emphasizing their importance to the team.
“Tom has played some crucial innings for us, and Glenn Phillips has done a great job lower down the order. We believe Tom is the right man for the role,” Stead explained.
As for Conway, Stead acknowledged the challenges of opening in New Zealand conditions but expressed confidence in the left-hander’s abilities. “Devon’s a class player. He’s going through a tough patch, but we back him to find his form again.”
The second Test of the series begins on Friday in Wellington.
