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With Neil Wagner’s “huge” loss in Test 2 against Pakistan overcome, Black Caps coach Gary Stead and captain Kane Williamson have a big decision to make; Who will replace the world’s third-ranked bowler in the starting eleven?
Wagner, who required injections to numb the pain after breaking two toes in the first test at Mt Maunganui, will take up to six weeks to recover from injuries and is out of the Christchurch test after an astonishing effort to fight pain and play. a decisive role in a thrilling 101-race victory.
Stead will name an “like-for-like” replacement for Wagner (that is, a rhythm bowler), likely Friday morning, with Matt Henry as the top contender.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Neil Wagner celebrates his Faheem Ashraf wicket during the exciting final day of the Black Caps-Pakistan event at Mt Maunganui. Wagner kicked with two broken fingers.
Naming a replacement can be the easy part; figuring out which player actually replaces Wagner on the team is another story.
READ MORE:
* Black Caps bowler Neil Wagner ruled out second test for broken fingers
* ‘You Could Hear Him Scream’: How Neil Wagner Overcome The Pain Barrier To Help Black Caps Beat Pakistan
* Black Caps vs Pakistan: ‘Mad’ Neil Wagner teams up with Kyle Jamieson to define the spell
Is it a direct exchange with four genuine closers at the typically bowler-friendly Hagley Oval? Mitchell Santner on what has traditionally been a cemetery for spinners.
The answer will likely be at the Hagley Oval wicket.
“I have to go there and have a look at it,” Stead said upon arrival in Christchurch on Thursday. “My understanding is that we can expect a normal, fast pitch here at Hagley that we always have. Hopefully we get it again. Depending on what the surface looks like, there is the option to play both (the off-roaders) as well … but that’s something we’ll decide when we get closer to game time. “
Either way, Stead has no illusions how big Wagner’s loss is, given his performances over several years and, of course, in the win over Pakistan, which included an 11-in-plus spell with those broken fingers on the last afternoon.
“I’m not sure there are too many people who can do what he did in that test match. It was an absolutely amazing performance. He was receiving injections to try to numb the pain. The injections were wearing off every time and we can’t let him go through that again for this test match. “
Stead figured his champion, his left arm, needed five to six weeks to recover. Naturally, the 34-year-old, who has 219 proving grounds at 26:32, wanted to travel to Christchurch, but “realized it was unrealistic to be able to keep doing that.”
While Wagner’s heroic deeds on the final day provided the obvious talking point, Stead was quick to turn the spotlight on the team’s performance, against a brave team from Pakistan.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Daryl Mitchell will be one of the options the Black Caps consider before naming their team for the second test.
“If you look through Game XI, there were some great performances from everyone throughout the game and I guess that’s what winning the test cricket is all about. It’s not just about one contribution or a few, it’s about everyone, and I think we did superbly well.
“That’s what hard test cricket is all about and it’s a pleasure to come out on the right side in that against a very good team from Pakistan. Don’t underestimate how difficult this test match was, the guys will be quite sore and will need a couple of days off to prepare and start over. “
As is the case with successful teams, this New Zealand team is undefeated in 16 home events and has won a national record that equates to five events in a row, milestones and achievements are beginning to be discussed. Top of that particular pile is the fact that they would be the # 1 ranked test team in the world, for the first time, with a win or a draw in Test 2.
“There was a bit of talk about it last night and some of the players said a few words about what it meant to them and it’s something very, very special,” Stead said.
“It shows longevity, it shows skill over a period of time and it shows consistency in performance and these are things we all want to do. However, as I tell the guys, it really doesn’t matter what ranking you’re in when you start a match, it’s just two teams playing each other and that will be our attitude against Pakistan. “
The second test starts on Sunday.
