Newcomers get test call-up

Wellington Firebirds 21-year-old spinning allrounder Rachin Ravindra and Otago Volts swing bowler Jacob Duffy have earned their maiden call-ups to the Black Caps test squad for the upcoming tour of England.

The pair, alongside the in-form Devon Conway who has played T20 and one-day internationals, are the only uncapped players in a 20-strong touring party named to face England in two tests.

The first Test is at Lord’s in London starting on 2 June, and the second at Edgbaston in Birmingham from 10 June.

The squad will then be trimmed to 15 for the ICC World Test Championship Final at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton starting on June 18, as per ICC regulations.

If selected to play, Ravindra would be the youngest New Zealand test player since Ish Sodhi debuted at 20 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2013.

The left-handed Ravindra scored twin hundreds for New Zealand A against the touring West Indies and recently returned from a dislocated shoulder to record his first Plunket Shield century, followed by six wickets in the Firebirds’ final round clash against the Auckland Aces.

Duffy burst on to the international stage in December when he claimed 4-33 and the player of the match award on debut for the Black Caps T20 side against Pakistan at Eden Park.

The 26-year-old has long been the Volts’ red-ball bowling spearhead with 197 first class wickets to his name and first toured England in 2015 where he played for the New Zealand XI against Somerset and Worcester.

He was the fifth-equal wickettaker with 22 in this season’s Plunket Shield despite missing two rounds, and finished tied at the top with Neil Wagner on the same number in last year’s Covid-19 shortened competition.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead said the pair richly deserved their test call ups.

“I’ve seen first-hand how hard these guys have worked in our NZC winter training squads and with New Zealand A, and so for them to earn their maiden test call-ups for such a special tour will be really satisfying,” Stead said.

“Rachin’s been earmarked as a star of the future since his under-19 days and we’ve been really encouraged by the advancement in his game this season, with both bat and ball. He’s obviously an opening option, but also has the ability to bat in the middle order which combined with his left-arm finger spin make him a great asset to our squad.

“Jacob’s been a consistent performer on the domestic circuit and his ability to swing the ball made him a particularly compelling option with a Duke ball in English conditions.”

The rest of the squad has a familiar look with 14 of the 20 having featured in the home summer test wins over the West Indies and Pakistan.

Conway was first called into the New Zealand squad in December, as cover for expectant dad Kane Williamson, so his selection for the England tour represents his first full squad inclusion.

Colin de Grandhomme and Ajaz Patel return to the test side after injuries inhibited their selection in the home summer, while Central Stags all-rounder Doug Bracewell returns after last playing a test in August 2016 against South Africa at Centurion.

De Grandhomme had surgery on his right ankle in March and will need to pass a fitness test at the final pre-tour camp in early May, while Bracewell (hip) and Ross Taylor (hamstring) must also prove their fitness before boarding the flight.

Patel joins Mitchell Santner and Ravindra as the spinning options in the squad.

Auckland Aces speedster Lockie Ferguson was not considered for this test squad as he continues his return from a partial-stress fracture in his back while Adam Milne is another fast bowler who is still returning from injuries.

Stead said the ICC T20 World Cup in India in October-december was the priority for Ferguson and the selectors didn’t want to jeopardise that by loading him up for test cricket this early in his recovery.

The Black Caps will hold two training camps in early May before departing for England in two groups on May 16 and 17.

Players involved in the IPL will be managed on a case by case basis depending on when their team exits the tournament. — RNZ