When the New Zealand Test team reconvened at Hagley Oval, three weeks after a remarkable 3-0 victory in India, they welcomed a familiar face into their ranks.
Will Young’s star turn as Williamson’s replacement in India – Player of the Series with 244 runs – has presented a conundrum. One that, at first glance, has an easy if insensitive solution. However, Stead wants time to speak to captain Tom Latham.
“It’s obvious Kane will be back in the team,” Stead said. “He is an excellent player, as we know, and that creates some headaches in the selection so that Tom and I can understand each other in the coming days.
“Kane is one of the best in the world, so he’s going to play somewhere in that lineup. That’s how we get to mold the rest of the team around that.”
Stead giving up the rest of the team is a formality given that the field is expected to play to his liking. “If we use the traditional Hagley wickets, I imagine there will be four seamers.” The identity of the fourth remains up in the air, with Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy fighting to join Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke and the retired Tim Southee.
New Zealand are clear favorites to win this series, with the onus on them to win 3-0 to reach their second WTC final in three cycles. And after their success in India, a second title could well be on the cards.
“[I am] It’s sure to be a great series of tests. “I would suggest we watch some fireworks.”
