New Zealand have picked the trio of experienced spinners Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville and Mitchell Santner for the Test series against India starting in November 2021. Youngsters such as Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips have also been named in the BLACKCAPS squad who will begin their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) defence on the tour of India.
The 15-strong squad will be led by skipper Kane Williamson in the two Tests scheduled to take place in Kanpur from November 25-29, and Mumbai from December 3-7.
Since Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme made themselves unavailable for selection, Glen Phillips was selected for the first time in a Test squad since debuting for the Kiwis in Sydney Test against Australia in 2020 when most of the squad was down with illness and the xi had to be completed with reserve players.
New Zealand coach, Gary Stead, while commenting on the unavailability of Boult said, “Trent has already spent the best part of 60 days in hard managed isolation this year, while Colin had been on the road since May until recently returning home from Pakistan.”
“From talking to both players it was clear the best option for them was to be left out of this Test tour and for them to instead focus on being ready for the New Zealand home summer,” he added.
The New Zealand based Test players depart for India on Monday, November 8 at 6 pm.
The New Zealand tour of India would however begin with three T20Is on November 17, 19 and 21 and the current T20 World Cup squad of the Kiwis will play in it.
BLACKCAPS Test squad for India
Kane Williamson (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Will Somerville, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Will Young, Neil Wagner