New Zealand unchanged in bid to hit back against England. New Zealand named a repeat squad Thursday to bounce back against England in the second cricket Test but refused to recall batsman Will Young or bowl a spinner of his kind.
The Black Caps did the same day that the visitors announced they would field the same XI that took the opening match in Christchurch by eight wickets, for the clash that will commence in Wellington on Friday.
Four seamers will head home the attack after spin is the turning point in the latest Test at the Basin Reserve.
Australian opener Nathan Lyon bowled 10 against New Zealand for 172 in March and England will have to wait for their own offspinner Shoaib Bashir who bowled four first-innings wickets in Christchurch.
Skipper Tom Latham defended New Zealand decision not to bat again without the lone spinner on their team — Mitchell Santner — who was on fire after the recent 3-0 away win against India.
Latham expects the green-ish surface to be fast but thinks he has back-up in spinners Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra should the surface crack.
“We heard last time the wicket got a bit of spin and that sort of freaked us out,” Latham told reporters.
“But with this surface and first-class matches here the level we have entered is just right for this wicket.
“There are a couple spin guys in the top seven anyway”.
Young, the top order batsman who made 244 at an average just under 50, was deemed player of the series against India, and the 32-year-old was out to the fit Kane Williamson in Christchurch.
They’ve kept opener Devon Conway and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, who are both small but haven’t been forgotten. “Will (Young) obviously played great cricket in India and certainly did nothing bad,” Latham said.
“This addition of a Kane-type back just says enough for itself. Youngy is a team player and he’ll be good to go should he get his turn in this series”.
Ben Stokes, the England captain, in turn ginned up a wholesome contest between Joe Root and Harry Brook, ranked one and two respectively in the revised ICC Test batting rankings.
Veteran Root has kept top spot and Brook is up two places to second after his great 171 in Christchurch.
They are two fantastic footballers,’ Stokes said.
“One in Joe Root who is a really, really, really old boy and then you’ve got Harry Brook who is 20 Test matches into what is going to be a really cool international career.
‘Those two guys will be in it for a long time. “They never discuss it but in their minds, Rooty will keep it going that he’s one and Brooks is still two if it has to happen.
The third and final Test is in Hamilton from Dec. 14.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt), Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (capt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson Brydon Carse Shoaib Bashir.