Wellington, December 9 (Daily Kiran) – New Zealand cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of the second Test against West Indies. Wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell has been ruled out of the match due to a hamstring injury. Blundell sustained the injury while batting during the first Test played last week in Christchurch.
With Blundell sidelined, 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Mitchell Hay is set to make his Test debut. Hay will play his first Test for New Zealand starting Wednesday, December 10, at Basin Reserve.
Earlier, New Zealand faced injuries to three other players. Fast bowler Matt Henry (calf injury), Nathan Smith (side injury), and all-rounder Mitchell Santner (groin injury) have all been ruled out for the remainder of the series. To fill their spots, New Zealand Cricket has included all-rounder Christian Clarke and fast bowler Michael Rae in the squad.
Mitchell Hay has featured in 19 international white-ball matches for New Zealand, including 12 T20s and 7 ODIs. In first-class cricket, representing Canterbury in 29 matches, he has scored 1,895 runs at an impressive average of 48.58, including 17 half-centuries and one century of 146 runs.
Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson is working with the team support staff as part of his return to red-ball cricket and recently played for Canterbury against Central Stags in the Plunket Shield. Glenn Phillips, who has recovered from a groin strain, scored 130 runs and took 9 wickets in Otago’s first two matches of the competition. Phillips has been named in the 14-member squad for the second Test.
Head coach Rob Walter said about Mitchell Hay and the new bowlers, “Mitchell is a young player who has already performed well in white-ball cricket. His first-class record for Canterbury is outstanding. Joining the Test team is a special moment in his career, and we are excited to see him play.”
Commenting on Christian Clarke and Michael Rae, Walter added, “Both players have been on our radar for a long time and have consistently performed well in domestic cricket. Clarke has taken 79 wickets in 28 matches for Northern Districts, while Rae has 208 wickets in 70 first-class matches. Both have excellent red-ball skills, and this is a great opportunity for them to prove themselves at a higher level.”
— (Daily Kiran) Dube
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