New Zealand have named their squad for the two-Test series against India, retaining several players who are still working their way back from injury. Tom Latham will captain the side, which opens the series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from November 19. The second Test follows at Hagley Oval in Christchurch from November 27, so the two matches will be played within little more than a week of each other in New Zealand's home summer.
The three players with the most uncertain availability are opener Devon Conway, all-rounder Rachin Ravindra and wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell. Conway was ruled out with concussion after a collision with Matt Henry during training. Ravindra dislocated his shoulder on a promotional shoot in September, an injury that kept him out of the one-day international and T20 series against India. Blundell is recovering from a quadriceps injury and has played only one domestic match since June, which leaves him with limited match preparation ahead of the opener. All three are aiming to be fit for the first Test, but their availability remains uncertain, and the selection panel has kept them in the squad on that basis.
The squad largely mirrors the team that toured England in June, when New Zealand won the series 2-1. That tour proved to be the last international assignment for Kane Williamson, who retired from international cricket once the series had ended. His departure removes one of the most experienced batters from the New Zealand line-up, and the squad now has to be built around a new top order. Jacob Duffy has been added to the group as a fresh option. Zak Foulkes, Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears are out, either through injury or because they are working through return-to-play programmes that have not yet cleared them for selection.
There are also changes on the coaching staff. Head coach Rob Walter will be joined by BJ Watling, who takes over as batting coach from November 16. Watling replaces Luke Ronchi, who is departing the role. Jacob Oram remains the bowling coach, giving the bowling group continuity through a period when several seamers are returning from injury. The changes mean the batting group will have a new coach in place before the first Test begins.
The series carries weight in the World Test Championship cycle. New Zealand are second in the standings and India fourth, and ten Tests are scheduled before March. Each result will move both sides up or down the table, which makes the two Tests in November important for both teams' qualification ambitions. The last time New Zealand hosted India for a Test series was in 2024, when they won 3-0 at home, a result that remains the most recent benchmark for the two sides in New Zealand conditions.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
5
