Conway to take Taylor’s role
Devon Conway will assume the role long held by Ross Taylor when the Black Caps start their three-test series against England.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead has virtually confirmed Conway will bat at No4 in the first test beginning at Lord’s on June 2, with captain Kane Williamson to stay at first-drop on his return to the side.
Conway has played seven tests for New Zealand – the first three as an opener in England last year, before batting at No3 in the home tests last summer against Bangladesh and South Africa when Williamson was out injured. He averages 63.91, with a doublecentury scored on debut at Lord’s against England as opener and two tons at No3 versus Bangladesh.
But with Tom Latham and Will Young the preferred opening combination, the left-hander will move to the spot Taylor held for most of his test career before retiring after the series versus Bangladesh.
Williamson has missed New Zealand’s last five tests with an elbow injury, but Stead said he saw little reason to move the side’s premier batter down to No 4.
‘‘Kane’s got a pretty good record at number three,’’ Stead said from England yesterday. ‘‘If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it – that seems to apply.
‘‘Devon has obviously done well as an opener for us here last year, but Will Young has made a nice fist of it too.’’
Young and Latham opened for New Zealand in their first warmup match against Sussex which saw the final day’s play rained out, with neither of the opening pair dismissed in their two turns at bat.
Williamson and Conway were both unavailable for the game, with the captain in New Zealand for the birth of his second child and Conway arriving from IPL duties.
Conway might start the final warm-up match versus a County Select XI in Chelmsford beginning tomorrow while Williamson – expected to arrive in England today or tomorrow – may play some part, with teams likely allowed to use more than 11 players in a non-first class match.
Henry Nicholls remains a doubtful starter for that match and the first test as he recovers from a calf injury suffered in training earlier this month.
Nicholls has also been in isolation for four days after testing positive to Covid-19 and Stead admitted that had made the lefthander’s rehabilitation – and judgment on his progress – slightly more difficult.
If Nicholls is unfit for Lord’s, Daryl Mitchell may be his replacement, with the batting allrounder given an early release by his IPL team, the Rajasthan Royals, barring any injury concerns in their squad.
However, pace bowler Trent Boult will remain with the Royals for the playoffs, and how far his team progresses will play a major part in determining if he is selected for the first test. The IPL final is on May 30.
The Black Caps will tangle with
Former New Zealand test spinner Daniel Vettori will make a full-time switch to Australia’s cricket set-up after being appointed as one of Andrew McDonald’s two new assistant coaches.
Vettori and Victorian Andre Borovec have been confirmed as part of Australia’s new-look coaching panel and will begin their roles next month in Sri Lanka.
Their recruitment follows Justin Langer’s exit at the end of the summer, with McDonald moving from assistant to take charge of the men’s team.
The other remaining assistant, Michael Divenuto, will stay on as a batting coach.
Vettori, New Zealand’s finest spinner and former captain, worked with Australia on the white-ball component of the recent Pakistan tour.
But a move into the full-time role marks his most serious involvement with Australian cricket after previously coaching the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.
two England test players trying to force their way back into the team in Chelmsford.
Ollie Robinson bowled 18 wicketless overs at a decent economy rate for Sussex but didn’t get the chance to impress on the scheduled final day, while opener Dom Sibley will be eager for runs to push his cause.
Tom Haines, who captained Sussex and scored 61, gets another opportunity against New Zealand while in-form Kent bat Ben Compton is also part of the County Select squad.