Options limited with Southee out
Seamer’s absence means bowling rethink for final test Proteas to rule late on de Kock
Tim Southee’s withdrawal from the third test squad sharpens the selection possibilities for New Zealand in the final test of the summer against South Africa.
The senior seamer is out with a grade one hamstring tear picked up in the second test loss in Wellington. No replacement has been named.
That means a couple of things: New Zealand have a like-for-like replacement in the group in Canterbury’s Matt Henry; but also that they may already have decided on a two-seam, two-spin bowling mix for Seddon Park, where the test starts tomorrow, weather permitting.
Therefore there’s no need to bring in a further player, who won’t be playing in any case.
The absence of Southee is a blow. It means that out of seven tests at home — and assuming swing man Trent Boult is fit to play after missing Wellington with an upper leg injury — and a possible 14 appearances by Southee and Boult, they have been restricted to just 10.
Southee was omitted for the first test against South Africa in Dunedin, and misses Hamilton; Boult was out injured for the second Pakistan test in Hamilton in November and missed Wellington.
Tommy’s going to come right. He [Latham] is a world class player and been a massive member in this group. Jeet Raval
Their figures have been outstanding in the home summer — Southee 29 wickets at 22.5 each; Boult 22 at 22.5.
The third regular fast-medium wheel, Neil Wagner, has taken 28 at 25.14 apiece, and has been there for all seven tests, assuming he’s picked for tomorrow.
There seem three options for New Zealand for tomorrow: pick Henry and give New Zealand three seamers, one spinner and a couple of medium pace helpers in Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham; introduce left arm spinner Mitchell Santner, giving New Zealand two frontline seamers and two spinners, Santner alongside Jeetan Patel; or leave Henry on the sideline and take the same bowling make-up as they had in Wellington, with Boult in Southee’s spot.
That presupposes Boult is passed fit. If not, start the computations again.
Meanwhile, opener Jeet Raval is backing fellow leftie Tom Latham to come right.
The Canterbury opener has struggled, with just 33 runs from his last eight international innings.
Raval, who has hit four half centuries in his first six tests and is averaging 40.5, pointed out all batsmen have a lean trot but is sure Latham will get out of the hole.
“Tommy’s going to come right. He is a world class player, and been a massive member in this group for a long period of time,” Raval said.
“He’s working as hard as anyone, and I sure he’s going to come good.”
Raval’s recipe for getting out of a slump?
“It’s about understanding what has to be done, going back to basics and doing as well as you can.
“If you’re willing to spend time in the middle, it will eventually turn around for you.” South Africa are sweating on an injury to star wicketkeeperbatsman Quinton de Kock on the eve of the third and final test against New Zealand.
De Kock, who played the most important innings of the second test in Wellington, suffered a blow on his right index finger.
He had an X-ray in Hamilton on Wednesday, which revealed good and bad news.
There was no fracture but it showed up ligament damage to the top joint of his finger.
“[Today] we’ll make a late call whether with the protective strapping, the physio is trying to [see if] he can bat,” said team doctor and manager Mohammed Moosajee.
Uncapped back-up wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen is on standby if de Kock doesn’t make the startline tomorrow.
However, Moosajee pointed to longer term issues for de Kock, which could be extrapolated out to major concerns for the wider international game.
He is due to play in the Indian Premier League, where he is contracted to the Delhi Daredevils. Moosajee said de Kock would need four to six weeks to recover. The IPL starts on April 5 and Delhi’s first game is on April 8 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“There is every likelihood he will pull out,” Moosajee said of de Kock.
“Every time he catches the ball, stress goes on that area. He is going to need a period of recovery.”
Further ahead, there is the Champions Trophy in England, starting in June.
Moosajee said his involvement in that could be in jeopardy.
“We all know the landscape of international cricket has changed. It’s no longer a seven or eightmonth season. At the moment, we play nine to 10 months a year and it’s no secret some of our players are going to play in the IPL.
“It’s a matter of how best to manage players to get the best out of them for 11 months a year.
“Guys have to pick and choose for their longevity in the sport.
De Kock’s 91 pulled the match around after South Africa were struggling at 94 for six, replying to New Zealand’s first innings 268 at the Basin Reserve.
He carried South Africa to an 91-run lead from which they pushed on, as New Zealand collapsed to an eight-wicket loss.