New Zealand have tapped uncapped quick Ben Sears for the second Test against Australia, ending hopes of a farewell outing for retired Black Caps pacemen Neil Wagner.
Injuries, patchy form and a 172-run defeat in the first Test mean New Zealand have plenty to think about ahead of their final clash with Australia, beginning on Friday in Christchurch.
Coach Gary Stead announced two pieces of injury news on Monday, with Devon Conway and Will O’Rourke judged unfit for Hagley Oval.
Needing surgery on a thumb injury sustained in last month’s Twenty20 series, Conway will be out for eight weeks, impacting his Indian Premier League commitments.
O’Rourke, the 22-year-old quick, suffered a hamstring strain in the first Test and needs a fortnight off.
With Kyle Jamieson already on the injury list, Scott Kuggeleijn ineffective in the first Test and O’Rourke now sidelined, Stead must consider his options for two bowling slots alongside Matt Henry and Tim Southee.
Until last week, it was assumed Wagner would be lining up, only for the 37-year-old to retire on the eve of the series.
Rumours of a stunning recall were considered after O’Rourke’s injury was confirmed, with Australian captain Pat Cummins quipping after the first Test that it would be the ‘shortest retirement ever’ if Wagner were to play in the second Test.
Stead said a potential comeback for the Hagley Oval Test was considered, but not to the point where it was put to Wagner, who was celebrated at a team dinner on Sunday.
“We reconsidered a number of things, but we thought in this case the pace Ben Sears offers and what he’s brought to us in international cricket is the difference we needed,” Stead said.
Sears, 26, has played 13 times for New Zealand in T20 cricket, including an impressive turn against Australia last month when he bowled Travis Head at 143km/h.
“He bowls with genuine pace and gets good bounce, which is always a great asset in red-ball cricket,” Stead said.
“We’ve been really impressed by his performances for the Black Caps in white-ball cricket this summer and believe he can make the step up to the Test arena.”
Should Sears play, it leaves one place for either Kuggeleijn or spinner Mitchell Santner, overlooked for the last two Tests on pitches the Black Caps didn’t feel would spin – decisions Stead said were mistakes on both occasions.
“It’s maybe a little bit of dryness in our summer, it’s made things a little bit different to what we normally see here,” he said.
“We put our hands up and say there’s a couple of times we haven’t got it right.”
Stead suggested Kuggeleijn was the frontrunner but a pitch inspection would again be critical.
“He will be better for the run (in the first Test) and hope to see more of him come the next Test,” he said.
New Zealand’s first Test defeat means they cannot win back the Trans-Tasman Trophy, which has been held by Australia for 30 years and counting.
They can, however, draw the series and claim much-needed World Test Championship (WTC) points with an improved showing on the South Island.
New Zealand and Australia were the first two winners of the WTC and sit second and third respectively on the current points table behind India.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Though I just remembered Conway, like Wagner is a product of South Africa, not NZ. Came to NZ at 26. So not so relevant when we look at long term comparisons.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
I think the injuries hurt them more this time than last. Ferguson got injured during his one and only test match, so it’s not like he has been a key test regular for them. Williamson missed a dead rubber, and one of Boult’s two missed tests was the dead rubber too. Losing Ferguson after 11 overs in the first test was more than offset by losing Hazlewood after 8 balls. This time around they’ve lost their best fast bowler and best opening bat. That said, Jamieson has a terrible injury history so it’s not a great surprise he’s not fit. Part of the reason the Australian attack is so great is their ability to stay on the park.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
One element in the debate over whether NZ has an inferiority complex about playing Aus compared to other teams - in the last two series they have been affected by injuries more than we have. Williamson, Boult and Ferguson missed matches last time, this time it’s Conway and Jamieson. Not saying they would have done any better but they get affected more in terms of depth. Hazlewood was the only one injured in 2019-20 and we had Pattinson to replace him. It’s really only in the last several years that NZ has done very well against other teams.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
The Wagner of 2024 is not the Wagner of 2019. He was ineffective against the South Africa C team when he played this season and averaged 40+ at nearly 6 runs per over last season against England and Sri Lanka. I think New Zealand have made the right call moving on from him. There's no point wheeling out a retired bloke who hasn't been in good form for one test match when the Trans Tasman Trophy has already been lost. Get Ben Sears in and give him a taste of test cricket with an eye to the future.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Maybe the sports could swap the trophies around to see if it leads to any change of fortunes.
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
“New Zealand’s first Test defeat means they cannot win back the Trans-Tasman Trophy, which has been held by Australia for 30 years and counting.” We are waiting to get the Bledisloe Cup back 20 yrs and counting!
Gamechanger
Roar Rookie
Particularly at Smith. His barrage against Smith leg side theory approach and field placements worked for Wags, when in Australia last.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
In recent years Hagley Oval has taken some spin and I would like to see Santner ahead of Kuggeleijn, despite Stead's statement. Santner offers something with the bat as well. Patel, he of 10 wickets fame, has taken 7 wickets on his latest outing for Wellington. And... if you really wanted another seamer, surely you'd have Wags dishing up some short stuff ahead of Kuggeleijn.