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The Blackcaps have gone with a spin-heavy squad for the tour to Bangladesh starting later this month. Five spinners have been selected for the squad with them being Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips.
The squad has also seen the likes of Kyle Jamieson coming back into the fold following his injury issues over the past wee while. Mitchell Santner is another to have earned a recall, his last test being in 2021, the reselection being an opportunity to add to his 24 test caps and 41 wickets he has taken @45.63.
Following an excellent performance so far at the ICC Cricket World Cup, Ravindra has earned a test recall and will be looking to add to his three test caps. The last game he featured in was Aotearoa's infamous loss to Bangladesh in 2022. Like Ravindra, Phillips has also had a pretty good Cricket World Cup where he has taken 6 wickets, including three against Australia whilst also making 226 runs in seven innings.
In an interview with Kiwi Cricket Kōrero, Ajaz Patel was asked about being selected for the tour of Bangladesh:
“Yeah, it's real special. Obviously it's always an honour to play for New Zealand. Every time you get an opportunity to, I guess, wear the fern, it's very, very special. So, I mean, it's something you work towards as a cricketer and, you know, to get that opportunity is really cool.”
With five spinners being selected in the squad it is clear that the squad has been selected accordingly to deal with the conditions. Patel was also asked about his thoughts on how this will affect the team and their chances of all doing well:
“We're all slightly different so I think we all kind of complement each other. I don't think all five of us will get the opportunity to play unfortunately but it really bodes well for us to have lots of options especially in the subcontinent where you know you have spin friendly conditions and we've got some good bowlers in that mix so you know it's it's really cool spot to be in really”
The Blackcaps are running with a three-man pace attack with Jamieson to be joined by Matt Henry and test captain, Tim Southee in the assignment of leading New Zealand to victory in what will be their first game of the new World Test Championship cycle.
Both Michael Bracewell (ruptured Achilles) and Trent Boult (unavailable for selection) were not considered.
When Patel last played in the subcontinent it was when he picked up his 10 wicket innings. Kiwi Cricket Kōrero also asked him about his past experiences in these types of conditions and how they will assist him:
“I guess you absorb whatever you've learnt in the subcontinent, how to bowl in those conditions, how to combat the heat, you know, setting up batsmen in their home conditions, I guess also having an understanding of how guys in the subcontinent look to play you and then setting fields accordingly. So it's just drawing on all those experiences to kind of make the most of it.”
Luke Ronchi will lead the coaching group as Gary Stead is resting at home and preparing for the home summer. Ronchi will be joined by former Northern Districts batter, Daniel Flynn, current Central Hinds coach Jacob Oram and former Pakistan bowler and Head Coach Saqlain Mushtaq.
Blackcaps Test squad v Bangladesh
Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson, Will Young
*Comments from Ajaz Patel were given in a private interview with Kiwi Cricket Kōrero and are not permitted to be used elsewhere without credit and permission.
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