Spinners’ selection takes another turn
Todd Astle’s out, Ish Sodhi is in and it’s likely the Black Caps will be forced to elevate Tim Southee to No 8 for the second and final test against England.
Astle’s rotten luck - the leg spinner picked up a side strain bowling in the first test in Auckland means fellow leg spinner Sodhi is in line to play his 15th test, and first since September 2016, starting at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval tomorrow.
Despite Astle snaring 3-39 as the Black Caps dismissed England on Monday to record just their 10th test victory over their old rivals, there will be those who feel the team is now as it should be.
After all, there was no shortage of people moaning about the selectors’ decision to opt for Astle over Sodhi when Mitchell Santner was ruled out for up to nine months with a knee injury before the first test.
There were cases for both spinners, and those on team Astle much preferred the prospect of the Cantabrian batting at No 8 over Southee.
Black Caps selector Gavin Larsen didn’t flat out say it was the deciding the factor, but he may as well have when he said ‘‘having someone like Todd who can bat No 8 is an advantage’’.
For Sodhi, who joined the team in Christchurch yesterday, it wasn’t a time to drop lip.
He fronted for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield and took a staggering 19 wickets in two matches, including career-best first class match figures of 12-62 in
his side’s comprehensive win against Wellington earlier this week.
‘‘It was good to get a chance to bowl some overs out in the middle so I go into the test, if I get a chance to play, with a bit of momentum,’’ Sodhi said.
‘‘As a young spinner learning your art, the best way to do it is to bowl as much as you can.’’
Having kept a close eye on the pink-ball match at Eden Park, the 25-year-old sympathised with Astle, who is expected to remain around the camp as the Black Caps eye their first test series win against England since 1999.
‘‘Having another leg spinner around is quite good to bounce ideas off because there’s not many of us around,’’ Sodhi said.
‘‘I love watching leg spin being bowled, and I love seeing it bowled well. And Todd did it really, really well in the last game.’’
Astle had to wait an long time for captain Kane Williamson to chuck him the ball in the first test. He wasn’t required as the hosts skittled England for 58 in the first innings, while Williamson persisted with medium-pacer Colin de Grandhomme (0-40 from 24 overs) for long periods in the second innings.
Sodhi hadn’t had a chance to take a peek at the Hagley Oval wicket before he spoke to media yesterday, but he fancies his chances of adding to his 38 test wickets on a pitch which doesn’t usually lack bounce.
‘‘I prefer bounce. If you gave me the choice to have turn or bounce, if the turn was slow, I would rather have the bounce.’’
As for the prospect of Northern Districts team-mate Southee moving up the order, Sodhi wasn’t so sure. ‘‘Hopefully not,’’ he quipped. ‘‘Whatever it is, I think we’ll find out in the next couple of days and I’ll just try to fit into that role as best as I can.’’