New Zealand vs India 2020: Neil Wagner Set To Return For Second Test In Christchurch

Following an impressive 10-wicket victory in Wellington, New Zealand set to get an extra boost with the comeback of Neil Wagner. The flamboyant cricketer has been an exceptional servant of the Black Caps for a while in Test cricket and would like to replicate the similar performance against the Indian National Cricket Team, who faced their first defeat in the World Test Championship in Wellington.

The hosts went in with the three-man pace attack for the series-opening first Test in Wellington. Wagner, who was on paternity leave, will replace Matt Henry and is also going to cause a selection headache as Kyle Jamieson, who replaced him in Wellington had a fantastic debut.

Neil Wagner will come back: Gary Stead

New Zealand coach Gary Stead did confirm Wagner will replace Matt Henry in the squad and said he will feature in Christchurch, the venue of the second and final Test of the series which they lead 1-0.

Wagner, who finished with 17 wickets in three Tests against Australia recently, is eager to return according to Stead, opening up the possibility of a four-man pace attack at the seamer-friendly Hagley Oval.

We will have a look at the wicket: Gary Stead

“Yeah, that’s always good selection dilemmas to have,” Stead said to the reporters on Tuesday.

“Neil Wagner will come back and he’s been a force in our team for a long time, and obviously Kyle Jamieson made the most of his debut, and the way he played, I thought, was outstanding as well, did a really good job for us,” he added.

“I think we always consider those things. We’ll go down there, look at the wicket, we’re still three or four days out at this stage, so don’t want to make any assumptions before we get down there, but generally the wicket we play on at Hagley has a wee bit in it as well,” Stead further said.

Traditionally, Hagley Oval is a venue that has favoured seam bowlers, so there is a chance New Zealand might go in with both Wagner and Jamieson in a four-man pace attack alongside the experience of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.