WELLINGTON: New Zealand opener Devon Conway faces a fitness test on his injured thumb ahead of the first Test against Australia in Wellington on Wednesday after seeking further assessment from specialists and not hitting the ball since a hand injury last Friday. Conway injured his left thumb in the second T20I against Australia in Auckland on Friday. Initial scans cleared him of a fracture, but he didn’t hold up or bat after the hit and was ruled out of the third game of the series.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead confirmed Conway will not train on Tuesday, with a decision on whether he can play the first Test on Wednesday. “We’re still investigating Devon’s thumb at this point,” Stead said. “He’s seeing a lot of specialists right now. You won’t see him at practice today. But hopefully we can make a call tomorrow morning where it fits. He had the bat in his hand a couple of times. It’s not comfortable right now. But like I said, we’re still investigating exactly what is happening in the thumb. We had a number of different specialists look at it.”
Stead confirmed he will need to see Conway hit some balls into the nets before clearing him for the game. “He will get more scans and more expertise later today,” Stead said. “Obviously we want Devon to play. I think he’s a key person in our batting order. His record speaks for itself. So we want to give him every chance to be available.” Stead confirmed that Rachin Ravindra will be able to play after being left out of the last two T20Is against Australia as a precaution following knee pain.
Daryl Mitchell is also fit to play after missing the second Test against South Africa and the entire T20I series against Australia to manage a lingering heel problem. Mitchell will return to his place at No.5, meaning Will Young is likely to step back unless Conway is ruled out, in which case he will bat alongside Tom Latham. Neil Wagner announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday after being told he would not be selected for the two Tests against Australia.
His place in the squad is ceremonial only for this Wellington Test. New Zealand fielded four fast bowlers in their final Test in Hamilton, but Stead admitted it was probably a selection error despite winning the match. Mitchell Santner looks likely to regain his place in Wellington. “I think in hindsight we were probably wrong about the way the pitch was behaving,” Stead said. “We certainly have Mitch Santner as an option and we will certainly consider him as well.
Captain Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Will O’Rourke look likely to be the trio of fast bowlers, with Scott Kuggeleijn the only other fast bowling option in the squad. The pitch had a typically green appearance two days after the first test, but those in the middle said it looked very good and firm underneath despite the live green cover. New Zealand have not beaten Australia in a Test at home since 1993 and have not beaten them anywhere since 2011, but Stead said the series presented an opportunity to improve their record against their neighbours.
“We don’t play Australia that often, which is strange considering they’re just across the Tasman,” Stead said. “But look, they always set the bar and they’re the reigning Test world champions for a reason. They’re a very good side. But that’s our opportunity. And that’s for us to go out and show our wares, I think.” and we certainly look forward to the challenge that lies ahead.”
