Kane Williamson returns to New Zealand squad for England Tests

Batsman Kane Williamson has made a comeback to the New Zealand Test squad for the series against England after missing the historic Test series against India which the Kiwis won 3-0 to register their first-ever series win in India.

Williamson was out due to groin injury.

Along with Williamson, Nathan Smith could also be seen in action as he has earned his maiden Test call-up for the upcoming three-match Tegel Test series which starts at Hagley Oval on November 28.

“Smith, who made his full international debut in the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Wednesday, was the standout bowler in last year’s Plunket Shield competition, leading the wicket-taking charts with 33 wickets at an average of 17, including career-best First-Class figures of 6-36 against Canterbury in Rangiora,” said a statement from New Zealand Cricket.

Fresh from his Player of the Match heroics in India, Mitchell Santner has been selected as the frontline spinner for the second and third Tests in Wellington and Hamilton.

Santner played a key role claiming 13-157 in the second Test in Pune, the third best Test match figures in India by a New Zealander.

“The BLACKCAPS will assemble a squad of 13 for each Test, with one seam bowler set to make way for Santner for the second and third Tests at the Cello Basin Reserve and Seddon Park,” the statement added.

New Zealand still have a chance to qualify for the third installment of the ICC World Test Championship Final, sitting fourth on the table, narrowly behind India (2nd) and Sri Lanka (3rd).

Of the squad that toured India, Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi have not been included as the selectors seek a different bowling group for the expected home conditions, while Mark Chapman makes way for Williamson.

BLACKCAPS Test squad v England

Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner (2nd & 3rd Tests), Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Cricket, New Zealand, Kane Williamson, England, Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham, India, Nathan Smith