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Black Caps captain Kane Williamson is out of the second cricket test against the West Indies, having flown from Tauranga to Wellington and then rushed home on Thursday to be with his pregnant wife.
Just four hours after his spot was confirmed, Black Caps coach Gary Stead warned Williamson would miss the game at Wellington’s Basin Reserve to support his wife Sarah, who will give birth to their first child. ” mid to late December “.
It means Will Young will return for his second test and hit No. 3, with Tom Blundell switching to wide open and goalie BJ Watling returning from a hamstring injury to hit at six.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Tom Latham, center, will be captain of the Black Caps in Wellington following the retirement of Kane Williamson.
Stead confirmed that Tom Latham would be the team captain, as he did in Sydney in January when Williamson was ill. The only decision now is between off-roaders Daryl Mitchell and Hamilton’s 12th man Mitchell Santner for the final spot, which will be decided in the morning.
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Williamson flew home to Tauranga on Wednesday night to accompany Sarah to a scheduled appointment with the midwife the next day.
Stead confirmed it in the second test lineup on Thursday and Williamson landed in the capital before, it seemed, there was a change of mind.
“It is a decision we have made in the best interest of him and Sarah,” Stead said.
“Kane is not the first person to have a baby and miss a test match. Our thoughts and wishes are with Sarah and Kane at this time, and we want to make sure that mother and baby are well cared for first and foremost. “
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Kane Williamson scored his highest Test score, 251, in the first Test victory over the West Indies.
Young scored five in the Hamilton debut start, while Williamson was in sublime touch in the innings and in the first win of 134 runs, looting his highest test score of 251.
Their defeat will be deeply felt, but the gap is so wide between the sides that the West Indies will have to improve considerably.
Latham will watch West Indies captain Jason Holder at the 10.30am coin toss with both men hoping to pitch first. The total average for the first innings in Wellington’s last five tests is 212, with the first bowl team winning four of them when the field leveled off.
Watling admitted there would be some nervous moments Friday with the prediction of the north prevailing in gusts of up to 120km / h in the city.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
New Zealand’s BJ Watling wore the gloves again at Test 2 in Wellington.
“We have had some different [pitches]; sometimes it flattens out and other times it can do a little more for a little longer. We will have to see what the weather does and what the wicket does as we move forward, and make sure we adapt faster than the opposition, ”Watling said.
For Holder and his West Indies it is the end of a quick tour amid a global pandemic, the second to require controlled isolation after visiting England in July-August.
Surprisingly, they won the first test of that bubble tour, but this time it was a horse race in the Seddon Park opener despite winning the toss when the Black Caps’ four-point attack ruthlessly finished the job. .
Injuries have also hit with goalie Shane Dowrich returning home, along with inaugural bowler Kemar Roach after the death of his father. Batter Shimron Hetmyer (concussion) and bowler Keemo Paul (hamstring) were also out of the game, said Holder, who confirmed the test debut of 22-year-old Joshua da Silva of Trinidad.
Gareth Copley / Getty Images
Joshua da Silva of the West Indies takes a trap to fire England’s Rory Burns in July as a substitute.
“He’s a vibrant young soul in terms of wardrobe and one of those players who will push himself and endure, which is exactly what we’re looking for,” Holder said.
It’s a daunting task for tourists who have missed their last four visits to Wellington by one entry and 67 races (2017), one entry and 73 races (2013), 10 wickets (2006) and one entry and 105 races at the Mathew. Sinclair’s debut in the double century of 1999.
The under-par 138 and 247 innings at Hamilton were backed by blows from Jermaine Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph, and Holder is clearly demanding a lot more.
“Our bowlers have raised their hands most of the time… it’s a matter of us being a little fuller with the ball and asking New Zealand players to play a little more with the front foot. And the hitters should definitely stand up.
“We have to have confidence. It makes no sense if we are not. We all have a role to play and just slow it down, be a little more patient and a little clearer than the first test and go into this game in a good frame of mind. “
For the Black Caps, the formula won’t change, with Kyle Jamieson returning to the scene from his dream debut against India in February alongside Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.
The latter watches his 50th test after ascending to No. 2 in the world bowling rankings. Since their debut in 2012, Wagner, Southee and Boult have taken 720 wickets combined as one of the world’s leading rhythm trios.
Wagner said of the Windy Basin, where he caught 20 terrains at 7:45 PM in his last three tests: “It’s one of the toughest terrain I’ve ever experienced. It all comes down to wanting to do the job and loving it. “
TAKE A LOOK
What: Black Caps v West Indies, second cricket test
Where: Basin Reserve, Wellington
When: 11:00 am from Friday to Tuesday (live stream on Spark Sport, live updates from Stuff from 10:30 am)
Black caps (likely): Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell, Will Young, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.
West Indies (likely): Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Shamarh Brooks, Jermaine Blackwood, Joshua da Silva, Alzarri Joseph, Shannon Gabriel, Chemar Holder.
TAB probabilities: NZ $ 1.22, WI $ 7.80, tie $ 6.30
