de Grandhomme broadens options

Averaging 37 with the bat and 31.6 with the ball in 24 tests, de Grandhomme has the numbers of a genuine allrounder and would be a potential threat with the Dukes ball. Whether he’s ready for the rigours of test cricket will be the big question.

‘‘He’s crucial. He’s been a fantastic contributor to the team now for a long period of time in test cricket,’’ said Jurgensen.

The Black Caps assemble for training camps at Lincoln, near Christchurch, on May 3-5 and May 11-13 before they depart in two groups on May 16 and 17.

Quite when their Indian Premier League team-mates join them in a Black Caps bubble is up in the air, after the British government added travellers from India to a ‘red list’ due to the Covid-19 outbreak there.

The Guardian reported elite sportspeople and support staff have an exemption that allows them to travel to the UK from an otherwise banned ‘red list’ country. However, this still requires a 10-day stay in a governmentapproved quarantine hotel upon arrival, with no special dispensation to leave for training or to compete.

It means Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Santner are almost certain to miss the first test against England at Lord’s on June 2, whether their IPL sides make the playoffs or not.