New Black Cap misses big call

Rachin Ravindra missed the phone call confirming his selection in the Black Caps’ 20-strong squad to travel to England for their upcoming twotest series.

Ravindra, 21, was called by national coach Gary Stead on Wednesday but couldn’t answer as he was travelling back from Auckland after Wellington’s final first-class Plunket Shield match of the season. After his plane landed in the capital, he rang back and was elated to hear the news of his selection.

The Wellingtonian feels his selection isn’t premature in the scheme of his young career.

“You always welcome it when it comes, but I’m not sure you’d say early. You kind of take it game by game, and if it comes, great, but if it doesn’t, you work your way towards getting here.”

Stead was complimentary of Ravindra’s game at such a young age.

“He’s a very natural stroke-maker, it looks as though he’s got his game in order with the bat. In terms of his leftarm spin, I see him as being quite an attacking left-arm spinner. He’s still young and learning that, but from what I’ve seen, his development and the way he’s gone about it has been fast and I definitely see there’s a big future for him playing in New Zealand for a long period of time.”

Ravindra has long been touted as one of New Zealand’s top young cricketing talents.

In 42 innings in first-class cricket, Ravindra has compiled three centuries and nine 50s at an average of 38.7, and while his bowling average is unflattering (58.2), he took six wickets in his final Plunket Shield match of the season and claimed 6-89 against West Indies A in December.

With the bat, he also notched twin hundreds for the New Zealand A side against the touring West Indies and a century last month against Northern Districts on his return from a dislocated shoulder he suffered in January, which kept him out for two months. Ravindra said the shoulder — which was a repeat of an injury from four years ago — felt “completely fine”.