New Zealand Pick A Spin-heavy Squad For Two-Test Series In Bangladesh

New Zealand pick a spin-heavy squad for two-Test series in Bangladesh (Image Source: IANS)

ICC World Test Championship: The New Zealand senior men's team selectors have picked a spin-heavy squad featuring the return of Kyle Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner, for the two-Test series in Bangladesh starting later this month.

The series marks the start of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship for the Black Caps and will feature a coaching team led by Luke Ronchi, as regular head coach as Gary Stead heads home following the ICC Cricket World Cup in India to prepare for a busy home summer.

In the series, Ronchi will be assisted by bowling coaches Jacob Oram (pace) and Saqlain Mushtaq (spin), along with Daniel Flynn, who joins the side for the first time as batting coach.

With spin-friendly conditions expected in Bangladesh, the selectors have brought back white-ball experts Rachin Ravindra, Jamieson and Mitchell Santner to join left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.

Santner returns to the side having played the last of his 24 Tests in 2021 against England at the Lord's and joins Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi as the front-line spinners.

Santner’s selection follows his most successful Plunket Shield season for Northern Districts in 2022/23 where the 31-year-old claimed 15 wickets at 26 and averaged 52 with the bat.

The spin options are further boosted by off-spinning all-rounders Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips who return to the Test squad off the back of impressive performances at the ICC Cricket World Cup in India.

Ravindra, who has notched three centuries at the World Cup, returns for his first assignment in whites since the first Test against Bangladesh at Bay Oval in January 2022, while Phillips is included in the touring Test squad once again after travelling to Pakistan in December/January.

Kyle Jamieson also makes a welcome return to the Test squad after undergoing back surgery in February, joining captain Tim Southee and Matt Henry in a three-man pace attack.

The 28-year-old pace-bowler has captured 72 wickets at 19 in just 16 Tests, becoming the fastest New Zealander to reach 50 Test wickets (in nine Tests) and was named Player of the Match in the successful ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

New Zealand selector Sam Wells said the squad was picked very much with the touring conditions in mind.

“We’ve selected a squad we think can compete and succeed in Bangladesh,” said Wells.

“With Ajaz, Ish, Mitch, Glenn and Rachin, we have a strong spin group that will offer good variety and options during the series. Mitch had a strong back half of the Plunket Shield campaign last summer and has made good strides in his red-ball bowling," he said.

“He brings a wealth of experience in sub-continent conditions and adds depth to the batting line-up as a genuine allrounder. Rachin brings a left-arm orthodox option and has improved considerably over the past 18 months with the ball - and his performances with the bat at the World Cup speak for themselves," he added.

New Zealand squad for Bangladesh series:

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

Bangladesh v New Zealand Test series

Two-day warm-up match – November 23-24 - Sylhet

1st Test – Nov 28 – Dec 2 - Sylhet

2nd Test – Dec 6-10 - Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka