Black Caps selection options in spin dryer
Rarely, if ever, have New Zealand’s international spin bowling stocks been so laden.
In the past 13 months, five frontline spinners graced the Black Caps test side, all in winning teams: Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville, Ish Sodhi, Todd Astle and Mitchell Santner. Those first two names provided two of the best angles of the cricketing year with game-breaking seven-wicket hauls on their test debuts, both past their 30th birthdays.
Assuming sidelined duo Santner and Astle return to selection contention for three home tests against Bangladesh starting on February 28, it presents some head-scratching discussions for coach Gary Stead and fellow selector Gavin Larsen.
This is especially the case with just one spin slot the norm in home tests, before the race opens up for the two-test tour of Sri Lanka in August. At least three twirlers will make that tour squad, maybe four if Santner goes as an allrounder.
First things first. How do we view the test pecking order, with Patel the current No 1?
Santner was the first choice test spinner under former coach Mike Hesson, although he was dropped for the now-retired Jeetan Patel during the South Africa series two seasons ago.
When Santner was sidelined in March before undergoing knee surgery, Astle stepped up for the day-night test against England that month. He bowled well in a pace-dominated match, and injury robbed the luckless leggie of any more tests for the year.
Sodhi was summoned for the second test against England where his defiant batting was more a factor than his bowling in their series-clinching draw.
Then, after Astle was sidelined again, it was the Patel and Sodhi show in the spin-friendly United Arab Emirates. Patel spun his side to a thrilling victory. Sodhi, still just 26 and with time on his side, improved his all-round game but is yet to nail the job as frontline test spinner and after two tests was handed drinks duties.
Welcome 34-year-old Somerville. It has been 13 years since his first-class debut. He matched Patel’s feat in the third test, showed a cool head under pressure and left Stead with a tough choice for the current series. Leftarmer Patel’s prolific Plunket Shield wicket-taking gained him the nod.
Selections for the first Bangladesh test are complicated by shield cricket resuming only a week before. Astle and Santner may well have been the top two if fit, with their batting a big plus, but after their layoffs they will need to prove themselves again to dislodge Patel, who’s bowled with good control and looked comfortable and capable at the next level.
There’s an argument to restrict Santner to white ball cricket where he’s outstanding, whereas with the red Kookaburra he’s played a holding role and rarely torn through a team. He averages 46 with the ball in firstclass cricket, 37 in tests.
Santner’s trump card is his batting and he could be the allrounder in Sri Lanka at seven, which could allow two other spinners – between Astle, Patel and Somerville – to make the XI.
The latter will return to contention, given tours to Sri Lanka then Bangladesh a year later in the test championship. As an offspinner, Somerville has a point of difference over the other four, which he showed to devastating effect in Abu Dhabi with flight, turn and bounce. Sri Lanka’s sprinkling of left-handers make him a must-pick for the tour as well.
So, let’s rank them in test cricket, for now: Patel 1, Astle 2, Somerville 3, Santner 4, Sodhi 5. It’s such a tight race and could all change quickly on form, fitness and all-round credentials.
It will be lean pickings for all five in the home summer with pace-friendly pitches likely against Bangladesh, but the last four rounds of Plunket Shield will provide an intriguing trial for Sri Lanka, a spinner’s haven.