Ben Sears bowls during the second T20 Chappell-Hadlee cricket international between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park, 2024 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Having played with and against each other as youngsters, Rachin Ravindra and Ben Sears are set to play alongside each other in the highest form of cricket.
Fast bowler Sears has been called into the Black Caps squad for the second test against Australia following the injury to Will O'Rourke.
The Wellington pair are both set to play at Hagley Oval on Friday as New Zealand attempts to salvage a drawn series following their 172-run loss at the Basin Reserve.
Ravindra and Sears both started the game at a young age in Hutt Valley and came through the age groups and are both members of the Hutt Districts club.
In 2016 they made the New Zealand under-19 side which also included Glenn Phillips, Finn Allen and Josh Clarkson.
They also both made their Wellington first class debuts in December 2018.
While he expressed his sadness for O'Rourke's injury, Ravindra is excited for his Wellington team-mate.
"He's a legend of a bloke, I've played a lot of cricket with him and known him since I was about five years old and so we've had a lot of history together," Ravindra said.
"He brings a lot of X-factor, he can bowl quick in the 140's (kph) consistently and brings that point of difference."
Rachin Ravindra and Rachin Ravindra on tour in Bangladesh in 2021. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
22 year old Ravindra is now a regular member of the New Zealand side in all three formats of the game while 26 year old Sears has played just 13 T20's for the Black Caps.
Sears says getting the phone call from coach Gary Stead was a bit surreal, and he doesn't expect his selection for the test squad to change his attitude towards the game.
"Just get stuck in and give what you've got, don't try to be anything different," he said.
"Keep a smile on my face, enjoy it and be up for it."
The first test loss obviously hurt and Ravindra says they can't afford to just flush that away.
"We do have to recognised where we slipped.
"It's a dangerous game if we always nitpick. Cricket is a funny game at times and if you look to over analyse, especially as a batter, you fail more than you succeed because you're in your own head."
The second test starts on Friday with the main selection issue for the Black Caps being whether to take four seamers into the game again or include specialist spinner Mitchell Santner.