From page 32// Conway gets the green light

WTC final.

The most obvious path would be at the top of the order opening alongside Tom Latham, which would see incumbent Tom Blundell miss out. Ravindra, who offers a bowling option, could also potentially open with Latham, allowing Conway to slide into the middle order behind Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls.

Blundell hit 64 against Pakistan in Mount Maunganui in December, but failed to reach 20 in his other four test innings this home summer. He has scored two test centuries, including a fighting 121 opening against Australia in the Boxing Day test in 2019.

Stead was diplomatic when asked whether Conway was a must-have in the test side, given what he had achieved in white ball cricket internationally and the Plunket Shield over several seasons.

‘‘I don’t know if you can’t say you can’t leave [him] out because the New Zealand team has still done really, really well in the last wee while when Devon Conway hasn’t been part of that team.

‘‘There’s no doubt he’s a fine player and we’ve all seen that. Every step he’s made has been a positive one.’’

New Zealand’s side for the first test against England on June 2-6 will depend on how far skipper Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult and Mitchell Santner go with their respective Indian Premier League T20 sides.

The last IPL round match is scheduled for May 23 and the final is on May 30.

If those players go deep in the tournament, there could be the potential for Ravindra, Conway and possibly Duffy to all make their test debuts at Lord’s.

Ravindra, 21, earned his first call-up to the national side after some strong batting performances with the New Zealand A side and Wellington.

The elegant left-hander averages 36.68 with the bat from 26 first-class matches with three hundreds and nine half-centuries. He has taken 22 first-class wickets at 58.22.

‘‘He’s a very, very natural stroke maker. It looks as though he’s got his game in order with the bat. In terms of his left-arm spin, I see him being quite an attacking left-arm spinner as well,’’ Stead said.

‘‘I definitely see there’s a big future for him in playing for New Zealand for a long period of time.’’

The squad, minus the IPL quartet, will depart for England in two groups on May 16 and 17.