Massive blow for CSK ahead of IPL 2024 as worrying update arrives from New Zealand on Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra

Devo Conway and Rachin Ravindra are hogging the limelight for selection in the first Test against Australia starting from February 29 in Wellington. Conway injured his left thumb while wicketkeeping in the secondT20I against Australia. Meanwhile, Rachin was left out of the last two T20Is due to knee soreness.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead said that Ravindra is fit to play while Conway will have to pass a fitness Test on Wednesday to be selected for the first Test. Conway injured his thumb last Friday and while there were no scans required, the southpaw did not keep or bat and was rested from the third T20I.

Australia whitewashed the Kiwis in the three-match T20I series and has been ticking the right boxes ahead of the T20 World Cup. The Kiwis will now look to make a comeback in the Test series and Conway is key at the top for the hosts. Stead further said that Conway will not train on Tuesday and a decision on his Test playing against Australia will be made on Wednesday. The first Test in Wellington starts on Thursday.

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Investigating Devon Conway’s Thumb: Gary Stead

“We’re still investigating Devon’s thumb at the moment. He’s seeing a number of specialists at the moment. You won’t see him at training today. But we are hoping that we can make a call tomorrow morning around where that sits. He’s had a bat in his hand a few times. It’s not comfortable at the moment. But, as I said, we’re still investigating exactly what’s going on in the thumb. We’ve had a number of different specialists look at it” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.

The Kiwi coach further said that he will need to see Conway hit some balls at the nets before clearing him to play in the first Test.

“He’s going to get more scans later today and more expertise on it. We obviously want Devon to play. He’s a key person I think in our batting order. His record speaks for itself. So we want to give him every chance of being available” Stead added.

The New Zealand coach further confirmed that Rachin Ravindra is fit to play in the first Test after knee soreness kept him out from the past two TT20Is against Australia. Daryl Mitchell is also set for a comeback after missing the second Test against South Africa and the entire T20I series against Australia due to a toe injury.

Daryl Mitchell is likely to bat at number five. Will Young will open the batting alongside Tom Latham, in case Conway is ruled out of the first Test?

New Zealand played four fast bowlers in their last Test match at Hamilton against South Africa. Stead admitted that not including Mitchell Santner was a mistake and he is certainly in contention for the first Test against Australia.

“I think in hindsight, we probably got that wrong the way that the pitch did behave. We’ve certainly got Mitch Santner here as that option and we’ll certainly consider him as well” Stead said

New Zealand Squad For Australia Test Series

Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

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