Wagner out, Jamieson poised for test debut
New Zealand will take on the might of India without their best player from the Australian tour, after Neil Wagner withdrew from the first test to be present for the birth of his first child.
It means the towering figure of Kyle Jamieson is almost certain to make his test debut against the world’s No 1-ranked side at the Basin Reserve tomorrow.
Wagner, the lion-hearted leftarmer, was set to fly into
Wellington today for the Black Caps’ final training.
But with wife Lana overdue, the Black Caps confirmed Wagner would not travel to Wellington and would remain in Tauranga until the birth. ‘‘Wagner will not be available for the first test,’’ a team statement said.
Canterbury seamer Matt Henry was summoned to Wellington as cover yesterday, after he was originally dropped from the squad for the two-test series.
Jamieson was preferred in the 13-man squad, and in Wagner’s absence looks the most likely to slot in as third seamer behind experienced duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult, the latter returning from a broken right hand suffered in the Boxing Day test.
Jamieson, 25, has 72 first-class wickets at an average of 28 and was called into the Australian tour as cover for the injured Lockie Ferguson.
He didn’t play in the 3-0 series defeat but made a big impact in the final two one-day internationals against India. On debut he took 2-42 and hit a valuable 25 not out out at Eden Park in the Black
Caps’ victory on the way to a 3-0 sweep.
Wagner took 17 wickets in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney and rose to No 2 on the world test bowling rankings behind Australia’s Pat Cummins.
New Zealand’s only selection dilemma now for Wellington will be whether to play the recalled spinner Ajaz Patel on a pitch that doesn’t always favour spin, or go with an all-seam attack with Henry or allrounder Daryl Mitchell taking the final spot.