Mitchell Santner Available For 4th T20I Against Australia After Returning COVID-19 Negative

All-rounder, Mitchell Santner is given a green signal to join the New Zealand squad back ahead of the 4th T20I of the ongoing series against Australia after he was tested negative for COVID-19.

Ahead of the 3rd T20I on Wednesday, Mitchell Santner woke up with  ‘head cold – he was immediately placed into isolation and had to miss out on the game after playing in the first couple of matches.

Thankfully, he is now cleared to play on Friday in the 4th T20I at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington; New Zealand Cricket confirmed Mitchell Santner’s availability by tweeting an update regarding the all-rounder.

“Team update | BLACKCAPS all-rounder Mitchell Santner has returned a negative COVID test this afternoon. He is feeling better and available for selection for T20 four against Australia at Sky Stadium on Friday night,” tweeted from the official Twitter handle of the Blackcaps.

In the left-arm off-spinners absence, Williamson included batsman Mark Chapman in the line-up, thereby limiting his bowling options to 5 bowlers – James Neesham had to bowl his full quota of 4 overs; he was belted for 60 runs.

Mitchell Santner moves up to the 7th position in ICC’s T20I bowling rankings

The 29-year-old spinner, on the back of his brilliant 4-wicket haul in the second T20I, climbed to the 7th spot in the T20I bowling rankings. His bowling partner, Tim Southee also moved up to the 6th position after his 2/10 in the first game – Ashton Agar and Sheldon Cottrell slipped down.

Attacking middle-order batsman, Devon Conway, who has had a thunderous start to his T20I career, jumped to No.17 leapfrogging 46 batsmen. Opener Martin Guptill, who made 97 off 50 in the second T20I, moved up three spots to No. 11.

Team update | BLACKCAPS all-rounder Mitchell Santner has returned a negative COVID test this afternoon. He is feeling better and available for selection for T20 four against Australia at Sky Stadium on Friday night. #NZvAUS #CricketNation

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 4, 2021

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