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Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Devon Conway, right, was called up to New Zealand’s first test team against the West Indies as injury cover.
Those Black Caps fans hoping for a Devon Conway test debut may have been mistakenly encouraged by the news that Kane Williamson will soon be a first-time father.
The New Zealand test captain said after his career-best 251 against the West Indies in Hamilton on Friday that his wife Sarah was due to give birth “in mid to late December.”
That could cause Williamson to miss an event: New Zealand will play the second Test against the Windies in Wellington from December 11 and then host Pakistan in two tests after Christmas, the first at Mount Maunganui on Boxing Day.
SPARK SPORT
Black Caps are preparing for a big win over Windies in Hamilton.
“We’re just going to cross that bridge when we can and see how things unfold, but it’s very difficult to plan ahead,” Williamson said.
READ MORE:
* Impending birth could cause Captain Kane Williamson to miss Black Caps duties
* Spin selection puzzle for Black Caps in the first test at Seddon Park v West Indies
* Black Caps vs West Indies: BJ Watling’s injury sees Devon Conway in, Will Young ready to debut
He may still play all four Tests this summer: Williamson lives in Mount Maunganui, the site of the first Test against Pakistan on December 26-30, and after not playing the Twenty20 series against the Windies, he could easily skip both as well. . T20 against Pakistan on December 18 and 20, especially if they coincide with the arrival of the couple’s first child.
However, if Williamson were to take a break from cricket, it seems unlikely that Conway would appear at home in tryouts this summer.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Devon Conway made his New Zealand debut in the Twenty20 series against the West Indies.
The South African-born southpaw joined the team for the first test in Hamilton as cover for an injury after goalie-hitter BJ Watling injured a hamstring on a national day.
That ultimately ruled him out on the test side, with Will Young promoted to debut as a starter while Tom Blundell took over the maintenance gloves and lowered the batting order to No. 6.
However, it appears that Watling can quickly return to the XI for the second test at Basin Reserve.
The 35-year-old has been making good progress in his treatment and training in Hamilton and is aiming to return for the second test in Wellington, according to the Black Caps camp.
If he were fit for the Basin, Young, who had five troubled in his first test innings Thursday, would leave the XI and Blundell would resume his starting role. That would put Conway three steps from the side of the test.
If Watling is unable to play at Wellington, Young will be given another run at the top of the batting order.
Blundell and Henry Nicholls will also undergo another test in Wellington to make their mark with the bat. Nicholls made seven in New Zealand’s first innings at Hamilton and it has now been 12 full innings since his last century of testing. In that time, he averaged 20.33 with a highest score of 42.
Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner were part of the first test team.
If any of the hitters pressured by Conway, who got off to an outstanding start to his international career in two T20 innings against the Windies after dominating domestic attacks for the past three years, also fails in Wellington, it would still go against the recent trend. . selection of trends so as not to see them given another chance against Pakistan.
But rarely did head coach Gavin Larsen and head coach Gary Stead have someone of the caliber of Conway, who has compiled over 2000 runs averaging 70 in first-class cricket since moving to New Zealand, waiting. behind the scenes.
Ajaz Patel missed the first test against the Windies with a calf injury and could be in a draft contest again if he gets fit again. He was replaced by teammate Mitchell Santner, the left arm spinner, but Santner was left out of the XI in Hamilton when New Zealand left without a specialized spinner.
Colin de Grandhomme was ruled out of both events against the Windies with a bone contusion to his right foot and was replaced by Daryl Mitchell, with the two events against Pakistan being the target of De Grandhomme’s return.
