Auckland Aces off-spinner Will Somerville has been called into the BLACKCAPS Test squad for the third and final Test against Australia in Sydney on January 3.
Somerville will replace pace-bowler Trent Boult who is returning home to New Zealand after suffering a fracture to his right hand.
Coach Gary Stead said the inclusion of Somerville was a nod to the expected conditions in Sydney.“There’s no secret the SCG pitch is one of the more spin-friendly in Australia,” said Stead.
“Will offers something different to our two other spinners in the squad with his right arm off-spin and height.
“The fact he’s played a lot of cricket in Sydney during his career for New South Wales will also be helpful as we prepare for this final Test.”
Since debuting against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi one year ago, Somerville played two further Tests for the BLACKCAPS in Sri Lanka in August and boasts 14 wickets at an average of 25.
Somerville will link up with the squad in Sydney on Tuesday.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
