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Kane Williamson-led New Zealand, who defeated England by an innings and 65 runs in the first Test match at the Bay Oval, will be disheartened as the ongoing series is not a part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Still, it has a positive sign as it gives both sides an opportunity to test their bench ahead of the upcoming WTC games.
Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme have been ruled out for the second Test, and Daryl Mitchell has been called up to play his debut Test at Seddon Park in Hamilton. This will be an excellent break for Mitchell. He is similar to de Grandhomme; just like him, he happens to be a batsman who has the ability to swing the bowl both ways. He has also played 9 T20 Internationals for the Kiwis.
A debut! Congrats Daryl Mitchell, a Test debut tomorrow on your home track 🏏 #NZvENG #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/Vb37evOuM1
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 27, 2019
When it comes to the replacement of Boult, then Blackcaps have two players in Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.
Henry, who has been a part of the Kiwi side in 10 Test matches, has taken 27 wickets with 4/93 being his best. On the other hand, Ferguson hasn’t made his Test debut, and considering the fact that New Zealand won’t take the English team lightly, there are fewer chances that they would go for Ferguson over Henry.
Joy Root & Co. is already 0-1 down in the series and will be looking to fight back in Hamilton. Speculations are there over Jos Buttler’s back injury and the skipper Root at the pre-match press conference revealed that the wicketkeeper-batsman experienced back pain while working out.
“Jos has tweaked his back in the gym. We’ll have to find out a little bit more information on that throughout today and tomorrow and see where he’s at,” said Root.
In Buttler’s absence, Zak Crawley could make his Test debut, or Chris Woakes may make a comeback. Ollie Pope, on the other hand, can play as a wicketkeeper.
Probable XIs
New Zealand
Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee.
England
Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Joe Denly, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler/Zak Crawley/Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad.
