Uncapped seamer Michael Rae has been drafted into New Zealand’s Test squad for the second match against West Indies, starting in Wellington on 10 December. The late call-up comes after Matt Henry (calf) and Nathan Smith (side) broke down during the Christchurch opener, leaving the home side short of fast-bowling options with only four days’ turnaround.
Canterbury wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay, also uncapped, joins Rae as injury cover and could debut if the management opts for an extra batting option.
Head coach Rob Walter admitted the timing is tight. “Losing two seamers in the space of a session wasn’t ideal,” he said after play in Christchurch. “We need fresh legs, and Michael’s been on the cusp for a while.”
Rae, 30, signalled his readiness last week in the Plunket Shield, taking 3 for 65 against Central Districts before being rested from the second innings once whispers of a Test call grew louder. At 6 ft 6 in he offers the steep bounce associated with Kyle Jamieson, a fellow Canterbury tall.
“It’s got to be one of the tallest bowling attacks in the world,” Paul Wiseman, now Black Caps talent manager, told ESPNcricinfo last year. “Jamieson at 6’8” and then you also have Michael Rae, who is probably 6’6”, and then the others are about 6’5”. Henners [Matt Henry] is shorter, but he’s a genius. I don’t know if we can get all those guys on the park at the same time but it will be a real test for any batter, I think. They are an exciting group and it would be great to see all of them fit in at the same time.”
Rae’s domestic record is solid rather than spectacular: 205 wickets in 69 first-class matches at 33.06, three five-fors, plus a short county stint with Warwickshire (14 wickets at 30.28). Selector Gavin Larsen has monitored him since Otago days and values his ability to swing a new Dukes or Kookaburra at fuller lengths.
If Henry and Smith miss out, the Wellington attack is likely to feature Tim Southee, Jamieson, spin-all-rounder Rachin Ravindra and two of Rae, Blair Tickner and left-armer Neil Wagner. Southee joked about the workload after trudging off Hagley Oval on Saturday: “Didn’t think I’d be bowling 30-plus overs before lunch on day four, mate, but that’s the gig.”
medical room
Henry hobbled from his follow-through late on day three; scans later confirmed a grade-one calf strain. Smith felt a tug under his rib cage during his 15th over and will have another assessment on Monday. The pair have not been ruled out officially, but insiders suggest neither will be risked with a third Test in Hamilton still to come.
Jamieson, meanwhile, marked his first-class return with a tidy 10-over spell for Canterbury after back surgery. Bowling coach Jacob Oram is encouraged, if cautious.
“I’d say he’s doubtful [for red-ball cricket] given he going through more of a white-ball stepping stone over in club cricket in Melbourne,” Oram said on Friday. “Just to get him some cricket on grass, good facilities, and a …” His sentence trailed off as a passing team-mate yelled for drinks, but the message was clear enough: no shortcuts.
Ben Sears, another express quick on the books, is serving the same apprenticeship in Melbourne grade cricket after repeat back niggles. He will not be hurried.
Hay, Rae’s Canterbury colleague, was on national radar after back-to-back Shield centuries in November. The 24-year-old keeps tidily and offers middle-order ballast, though incumbent gloveman Tom Blundell remains first choice. Whether New Zealand risk two debutants depends on conditions at the Basin Reserve, historically friendlier to swing than raw pace.
analysis
Adding Rae gives captain Southee an option who can attack the stumps with a newer ball and create awkward angles at the body when the ball goes soft. His strike rate of 58 in domestic cricket is respectable, and selectors may fancy a right-arm trio of Southee, Jamieson and Rae to exploit any assistance from Wellington’s prevailing northerly breeze.
The trade-off is experience. West Indies, buoyed by a gritty rearguard in Christchurch, will sense an opportunity if they can survive the opening burst. Kraigg Brathwaite’s side already negotiated 92 overs to save the first Test; repeating that effort against fresh yet inexperienced bowlers is their clearest route to parity in the series.
For Rae and Hay, though, the equation is simpler: stay loose, pad-up when told, and take the chance if it comes. A first Test cap in front of friends and family at the Basin is incentive enough.
