New Zealand vs Windies 2017/18: Tim Southee Back In Squad For Second Test

Tim Southee has been included in the 13-member squad for the second Test. The right-arm experienced pacer missed the first Test of the series due to the birth of his first child. Lockie Ferguson was added as a cover for him while George Worker was named as his replacement for the Test. Both of them were not included in the playing XI and have now been released as well.

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Southee is expected to straightaway walk in the playing XI for the second Test, and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will have to take a tough call going in the second Test.

Wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling though isn’t fit yet and has not been named in the 13-member squad. He suffered a hip injury last month during domestic cricket and is still recovering. Though he played a Ford Trophy game as a specialist batsman for Northern Districts on December 3and helped his side chase down a target of 267 by playing an innings of 115 off 132, in a 50-over contest.

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Tom Blundell, Watling’s replacement for the first Test, created history as he became first New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman to score a century on Test debut and when Watling returns to the side, the skipper will face a dilemma in this department as well.

The second and the final Test of the series starts on December 9 at Seddon Park in Hamilton. New Zealand posted a big win by an innings, and 67 runs in the first Test of the series played in Wellington. Neil Wagner shone for the team with a nine-for in the contest while Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Blundell scored a century to each to lead the team to a win in the series opener.

New Zealand squad: Test: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Tom Blundell (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner.

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