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New Zealand squad for Test series against Pakistan named, Santner returns


New Zealand selectors have declared the Test team that will face Pakistan in the upcoming two-match Test series which begins with the Boxing Day Test on December 26. Captain Kane Williamson returns to the squad after missing the second Test against West Indies due to the birth of his first child. 

The return of the skipper has resulted in Devon Conway being left out of the 13-man squad while Will Young retains his spot. The latter batted in Williamson's position in the second Test against the Windies but would, in all likelihood, sit out of the upcoming matches. 

There has been an important change in the spin bowling department with Mitchell Santner getting back into the squad while Ajaz Patel has been dropped. Santner is primarily a defensive bowler who has been very useful for the Kiwis in the limited-overs format while struggling to make an impact in the Test arena. 

Ajaz, who picked up a five-for in his debut Test against Pakistan in UAE, which led to a victory, has failed to back up that effort with more good performances, thereby losing his spot. This latest move is another in a continuing saga of New Zealand looking for a long-term successor to Daniel Vettori as an effective and dependable spin bowler in the longest format. 

In the selection of Santner, the batting abilities of the left-hander may have also played a part. The omission of Ajaz was explained by the coach Gary Stead in his statement. 

"The toughest squad selection was clearly around the spinner. That basically came down to the balance of the side and with the four-strong pace attack going so nicely, we wanted to have a spinning all-rounder as an option for that number seven position. 

"It's really unfortunate for Ajaz, who has overcome his calf-injury, but the all-round ability of Mitchell Santner is our preferred option for this series. The fact Ajaz hasn't been able to have any game-time in the lead-up was also a concern for the selectors," Stead said.

All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme continues to be absent due to an injury. This provides Daryll Mitchell with another opportunity to make a strong case for himself as a regular member of the Test team. 

The selectors have also given the green signal to Tom Blundell for continuing as the opener alongside Tom Latham. Blundell scored a hundred last year against Australia while opening the innings and is hoped to be the long-term opener the team has been searching for to partner Latham. He only had two innings in the series against West Indies. This series would be crucial for him as a failure could see other options getting tried. 

Matt Henry, an able seamer with a proven ability to swing the ball, misses out despite picking up a six-wicket haul against Pakistan Shaheens (Pakistan A) in a one-off unofficial 'Test' for New Zealand A. Despite that performance coming against a batting line-up that had many regular members of the Test line-up, selectors haven't seen the need to get him in a squad that already has four seamers who are certain to play in the upcoming matches. 

New Zealand Squad

Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (C), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Daryll Mitchell, Will Young, BJ Watling (Wk), Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee


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