New Zealand bowler Mitchell Santner surrounded by test team-mates. Photo: photosport
A spin-heavy Black Caps test squad featuring the return of Kyle Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner has been selected for a two-match series in Bangladesh starting later this month.
The series, which marks the start of the third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, will feature a new-look coaching team led by usual assistant coach Luke Ronchi, with regular head coach Gary Stead heading directly home following the World Cup in India to prepare for the home summer.
Ronchi's assistants in Bangladesh will be bowling coaches Jacob Oram (pace) and Saqlain Mushtaq (spin), along with 24-test veteran Daniel Flynn, who joins the side for the first time as batting coach.
Tim Southee will be captain for the two tests, in Sylhet (from November 28) and Dhaka (December 6).
With spin-friendly conditions expected in Bangladesh, the squad has been selected accordingly.
Santner returns to the side having played the last of his 24 tests in 2021 against England at Lord's, and joins Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi as the front-line spinners.
Santner's selection follows his most successful Plunket Shield season for Northern Districts last summer where the 31-year-old claimed 15 wickets at 26 and averaged 52 with the bat.
The spin options are further boosted by off-spinning all-rounders Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips who return to the test squad off the back of impressive performances with the ball in the early stages of the World Cup.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ravindra, who has notched three centuries at the World Cup, returns for his first assignment in whites since the first test against Bangladesh at Bay Oval in January 2022, while Phillips is included in the touring Test squad once again after travelling to Pakistan in December/January.
Jamieson also makes a welcome return to the test squad after undergoing back surgery in February, joining captain Tim Southee and Matt Henry in a three-man pace attack.
The 28-year-old pace-bowler has captured 72 wickets at 19 in just 16 tests, becoming the fastest New Zealander to reach 50 test wickets - in nine tests.
Henry has remained in India to rehabilitate the right hamstring injury he sustained last week which ruled him out of the World Cup.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2021
New Black Caps selector Sam Wells said the squad was picked very much with the touring conditions in mind.
"We've selected a squad we think can compete and succeed in Bangladesh," said Wells.
"With Ajaz, Ish, Mitch, Glenn and Rachin, we have a strong spin group that will offer good variety and options during the series.
"Mitch had a strong back half of the Plunket Shield campaign last summer and has made good strides in his red-ball bowling.
"He brings a wealth of experience in sub-continent conditions and adds depth to the batting line-up as a genuine allrounder.
"Rachin brings a left-arm orthodox option and has improved considerably over the past 18 months with the ball - and his performances with the bat at the World Cup speak for themselves.
"It's great to be able to call upon the services of Kyle again after a period out of the team and he will bring a different dimension to the pace group."
Wellington Firebirds allrounder Michael Bracewell was unavailable for selection as he continues his recovery from a ruptured achilles.
Trent Boult was not considered for selection after making himself unavailable for the tour.
Black Caps test squad
Tim Southee (capt), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Kane Williamson, Will Young