Devon Conway is back on a plane. The New Zealand opener flew 11,500 miles to Wellington earlier this week to be with his wife, Kim, for the birth of their second child, and is expected to make the equally long return trip in time for next Wednesday’s second Test against England at The Oval.
New Zealand confirmed the arrangement on Wednesday, noting that family came first but that the time-frames still worked. “BLACKCAPS batter Devon Conway has briefly returned home to New Zealand to welcome the birth of his second child. Conway will spend some time at home with family before flying back to London ahead of the second Test against England at The Oval, starting Wednesday 17 June.” A 23,000-mile round journey between matches is hardly routine, yet the camp seem relaxed about both the travel and his form.
Conway made 1 and 41 in the 115-run defeat at Lord’s – a low-scoring affair that left New Zealand 1–0 down in the three-match series. Those numbers do not flatter, but the 41 came in grim conditions, the kind of innings coaches tend to notice even if spectators forget. The left-hander’s ability to knuckle down should not be dulled by two long-haul flights, though the medical staff will keep an eye on fatigue and stiffness once he lands.
The rest of the squad were given a brief breather after Lord’s. They reconvene at The Oval on Friday, break again on Saturday, then train on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Head coach Gary Stead hopes the gap is long enough for Matt Henry to shake off the back spasms that limited him to 11 overs in the first innings last week.
“I think it’s a day-by-day case with Henners,” Latham said. “Fingers crossed, he keeps progressing the way he has from day one to where he is now [on day four]. We’ve got a little bit of extra time now to hopefully get him right and then, fingers crossed, we’ll have a full bowling attack to pick from again.”
England’s preparation has been less straightforward. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were stood down after a late-night incident in a London nightclub, while Joe Root has stepped in as interim captain. New Zealand, keen to avoid distractions of their own, have kept public comment to a minimum.
Quiet confidence, then, rather than chest-beating. Conway’s return will help. So will a fit Henry. But for the tourists the immediate priority is simple: get their senior opener back in the country, let him sleep, and hope the newborn is kind enough to his father’s body clock.
