Ajaz Patel is in line to make a dramatic comeback to the Black Caps for the third Test against the West Indies which starts on Thursday in Mt Maunganui.
The left-arm spinner has joined New Zealand's squad as a replacement for Central Stags teammate Blair Tickner, who dislocated his left shoulder during his team's victory in the second Test at the Basin Reserve.
Patel, 37, has not played a home Test since February 2020 despite famously taking all 10 wickets in an innings against India at Wankhede Stadium in 2021.
Head coach Rob Walter said of Patel: “Ajaz is someone we can trust to come in and do a job if required. Bay Oval, as we know, has typically taken more turn than other surfaces around New Zealand, and the fact he turns the ball away from the right-hander is very appealing.
“Taking another spinner into the third Test also gives a bit more variance in our bowling attack, along with our seamers who have been doing a great job thus far this series.”
Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra are other spin options but specialist Patel would add a different edge to an attack which will include Michael Rae, Zak Foulkes, Kristian Clarke and Jacob Duffy as seamers.
In another change, Tom Blundell returns as wicketkeeper after recovering from a hamstring strain suffered in the drawn first Test in Christchurch.
Blundell will replace Mitchell Hay, who made his Test debut in Wellington and performed admirably with the gloves. He also scored 61 in the first innings.
Walter said of Blundell: “Tom has recovered very well from his hamstring tear, and we’re grateful to have someone of his calibre back in the side.
“His experience is invaluable, even more so as we have a few guys in the squad who are relatively new to Test cricket – he is a leader in the group and we’re very pleased to see him back.”
Of Hay, who will return to Canterbury, Walter said: “We know Mitch’s quality from his time with the white-ball side, and he did a great job for us in Wellington - it’s very pleasing to have that added depth at wicketkeeper.”
One of the success stories from the Basin Reserve was the performance of Rae, who, after an uncertain start, brought energy with his seam bowling and took three wickets in each innings.
“The energy he brings to the group and the added benefit of his height means he’s able to extract plenty out of the surface, which he did so in Wellington," Walter said of Rae.
Fellow fast bowler Kyle Jamieson is progressing well through his red-ball return-to-play plan, according to New Zealand Cricket.
The remainder of the squad remains unchanged from the second Test.
The Test will be broadcast live and exclusive on Duke and TVNZ+
Black Caps for third Test v West Indies
Bay Oval, Tauranga – December 18-22
Tom Latham (C) – Canterbury, Tom Blundell – Wellington Firebirds, Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds, Kristian Clarke – Northern Districts, Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds, Jacob Duffy – Otago Volts, Zak Foulkes – Canterbury, Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury, Ajaz Patel – Central Stags, Glenn Phillips – Otago Volts, Michael Rae – Canterbury, Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds, Kane Williamson – Northern Districts, Will Young – Central Stags.
SHARE ME