Mitchell Santner has been drafted back into New Zealand’s Test party for the three-match series in England after proving his shoulder is up to the job. The left-arm spinner touched down in London on Saturday and is expected to train with the main group before Thursday’s first Test at Lord’s.
Santner, 34, damaged what the medical bulletin called a “grade three ACL shoulder injury” while turning out for Mumbai Indians during the IPL. Initial scans suggested he would miss at least the Lord’s fixture – and the one-off Test against Ireland in Belfast – but a month of rehab has done the trick.
His return means Dean Foxcroft, who impressed with a 98 on debut in Belfast, heads home early. The selectors see Santner as the more experienced spinning all-round option in English conditions.
Head coach Gary Stead kept the explanation short: “We’ve monitored Mitch all the way through rehab – he’s ready.”
Foxcroft’s departure is softened by the fast-bowling depth New Zealand carry. Nathan Smith bagged eight wickets and Blair Tickner six as Ireland were dispatched inside three days, while Daryl Mitchell’s medium-pace filled in tidily. Matt Henry missed that match with a low-grade hamstring niggle but has already linked up with Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke in London.
New Zealand’s main challenge now is England, idle since the Ashes wrapped up in January yet still led by former Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum. Four years ago his aggressive approach produced a 3-0 sweep of New Zealand; the tourists have been reminding themselves of that over plenty of coffee this week.
Santner, sitting track-suited on the team balcony at Lord’s, admitted the lay-off was frustrating. “You never like watching cricket you’re meant to be playing in,” he said, “but the shoulder feels strong again and I’m keen to get stuck in.”
England announce their XI on Wednesday morning; New Zealand will wait until the toss. Either way, the visitors suddenly have their frontline spinner back in the frame – and Foxcroft, unlucky as he is, will have to watch events unfold from home.
