India vs New Zealand 2024: THIS star batter doubtful for opening Test in Bengaluru, delays departure, Mark Chapman called in as backup
New Zealand will begin their three-match Test series against India from October 16 with the first Test set to take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board announced their squad for the Test series but there was some bad news for the visitors as former captain and star batter Kane Williamson has decided to delay his departure to India.
Williamson will delay his departure for the upcoming three-Test series against India due to a groin strain. The Gujarat Titans batter experienced groin discomfort during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will require a period of rehabilitation before joining the NZ Test squad in India.
NZ selector Sam Wells said the plan was still for Williamson to play some part in the three-Test series which starts in Bengaluru next week. “The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” said Wells said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour. While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series,” he added.
ICYMI | Our Test squad for the upcoming three-Test series against India, starting in Bengaluru next Wednesday. Watch all matches LIVE on @skysportnz #INDvNZ #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/TzvMIpZSrH
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 8, 2024
Uncapped Auckland Aces batter Mark Chapman will join the squad as cover for Williamson. Chapman, who has become a mainstay in the white-ball sides, averages 41.9 in first-class cricket, with six centuries, including 114 for New Zealand A against India A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in 2020.
He featured in three of the Aces Plunket Shield fixtures last summer, notching 245 runs at 40, including 123 against the Otago Volts in Dunedin in February. Wells said Chapman possessed the right skillset for Test cricket in the sub-continent.
“We believe Mark is one of our best players of spin and has a proven track-record in the sub-continent,” said Wells.
“Mark has displayed an ability to play spin proactively in the international arena, and combined with his excellent first-class record, we see him as someone who can succeed in the type of conditions we expect to encounter in India.”
All-rounder Michael Bracewell will travel with the squad for the first Test in Bengaluru before returning home for the birth of his second child and will be replaced by Ish Sodhi for the remainder of the series. The remainder of the squad is unchanged from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, with Tom Latham leading the side for the first time as full-time Test captain.
Gary Stead will lead the Black Caps coaching staff, alongside batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Jacob Oram. Former Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who was part of the coaching staff for the recent Tests against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will continue his role as spin-coach for the India series.
New Zealand squad
Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young