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New Zealand have provided their squad with five spinning bowling options, adding Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, for their upcoming two-match Test series in Bangladesh.
Ravindra, who was left out of the Test squad after a shock loss to Bangladesh at Mount Maunganui in January 2022, recalled after the ODI World Cup. He has scored 523 runs in 8 innings in the tournament so far and has become the first player to score. 300 for New Zealand at the men’s ODI World Cups.
Mitchell Santner also returned to the Test aspect after last betting on the format in June 2021. Santner had a productive 2022-23 season from the Plunket Shield for the Northern Districts, gaining 15 wickets and recording 312 numbers in 3 games. Hamilton in March, Santner made about 43 overs and recovered four of those wickets in the late innings, adding two two-balls to seal a two-run victory for the Northern Districts.
Ajaz Patel, however, will continue to lead the spinning attack and bring with him a form forged in the long form. He recently secured his 250th plot of land for the central districts and earlier, in May, he had won ten plots in a county suitable for Durham opposite Gloucestershire.
During the offseason in New Zealand, Ajaz reworked his swing, which he said added more effervescence to his bowling game.
“I think the game is moving forward and as a player, you’re looking for tactics to keep challenging hitters,” Ajaz told the NZC’s internal media team. “I think the [new] era of preparation allows things to develop a little bit. “A little faster, both from the action and out of the box. It’s about giving hitters less time in terms of [their] decision-making. It is also still a painting in progress. It’s something that’s still relatively new to me, so it’s just a matter of locating that rhythm and balance to locate the right rhythm.
Phillips and legpinner Ish Sodhi perform the spinning attack. The spinners will work with Saqlain Mushtaq, who has been hired as a spinning bowling coach in New Zealand for this tour.
“We have chosen a team that we can compete with and succeed with in Bangladesh,” said New Zealand coach Sam Wells. “With Ajaz, Ish, Mitch, Glenn and Rachin, we have a strong spinning organization that will provide variety and smart features during the series.
“Mitch had a backhand forged in the Plunket Shield crusade last summer and made smart progress in his redball bowling. Rachin brings an orthodox option with his left arm and has stepped up particularly over the last 18 months with the ball, and his performances with the bat at the World Cup speak for itself. “
Trent Boult, however, didn’t think about variety after being unavailable for the tour. The left-arm curler, who terminated his core contract last year, will be in action for the Deccan Gladiators in the Abu Dhabi T10 league. after the ODI World Cup.
Matt Henry, who injured his right hamstring in the World Cup match against South Africa and returned from India, has been named into the squad for any of the trials in Bangladesh. Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee are the only frontline point guards on the 15-man team. Speedy left-hander Neil Wagner was not named to the team.
Jamieson is fit to undergo his first test since undergoing back surgery in February. He is currently part of the Black Caps’ ODI World Cup squad in India as a replacement for Henry. Prior to flying to India, Jamieson had performed in Canterbury on the Plunket Shield. , scoring 44 unbeaten wickets and five team wickets against Otago in Christchurch.
Batsman Henry Nicholls, who suffered a slight lateral strain during the Plunket Shield warm-up at Canterbury, has recovered enough to get the New Zealand team in control. However, flexible player Michael Bracewell has not fully recovered from an Achilles tendon injury.
The two-match Test series in Bangladesh marks the start of a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for New Zealand. Luke Ronchi will be in charge of the team in Bangladesh, succeeding Gary Stead, who will be given a break after the ODI World Cup.
Ronchi will be assisted by Saqlain, Daniel Flynn (hitting coach) and Jacob Oram (fast bowling coach). Oram will update Shane Jurgensen, who will end his 10-year deal with New Zealand after the World Cup. NZC will look to appoint a full-time Bowling Coach after the T20 World Cup in June 2024.
Although this was Flynn’s first training season with New Zealand, Oram and Saqlain had worked with the team in the past.
This will be New Zealand’s first test excursion to Bangladesh in a decade. They were scheduled to stop in the country in 2020 but were cancelled due to Covid-19.
Team: Tim Southee (captain), Tom Blundell (week), 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 be young