Ajaz Patel and Blundell get recalls for the third WI Test with the latter recovering from his injury in the first test.
It will be Ajaz Patel’s first Test match in over a year and his first Test at home in over five years. For the third Test match between New Zealand and the West Indies, which starts on Thursday in Mount Maunganui, Ajaz was added to the team. Tom Blundell, the wicketkeeper, has returned to the team after missing the second Test in Wellington due to a hamstring tear sustained during the first Test in Christchurch.
Mitchell Hay, who made his Test debut in Blundell’s absence and scored 61 in New Zealand’s innings victory, and fast bowler Blair Tickner, who damaged his shoulder in Wellington, are both removed from the team. Hay will rejoin Canterbury for domestic work.
In November 2024, Ajaz made his final appearance in Mumbai, where he won Player of the Match and claimed 11 wickets as New Zealand defeated India 3-0. He has seldom had the opportunity to play on green, seaming home pitches, where New Zealand has tended to favour the usefulness of spin-bowling all-rounders like Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner—the latter of whom is out of this series due to a groin injury—but he is a first-choice frontline spinner abroad.
“Sometimes it can be challenging,” Ajaz said when asked about his career trajectory, “But at the same time, for me, its about trying to become the best cricketer I can be, being the best bowler that I can be and that’s kind of what’s motivated me and I guess forced me to continue to pursue and push to get better and those opportunities kind of come alongside that. It’s always exciting when you do get an opportunity to then put yourself up against some of the best in the world and see how you stack up.”
The likelihood of help for spinners in Mount Maunganui contributed to Ajaz’s selection.
“Ajaz is someone we can trust to come in and do a job if required,” New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said. “Bay Oval, as we know, has typically taken more turn than other surfaces around New Zealand, and the fact he turns the ball away from the right-hander is very appealing.
“Taking another spinner into the third Test also gives a bit more variance in our bowling attack, along with our seamers who have been doing a great job thus far this series.”