Injured Devon Conway to miss first Test against Australia

New Zealand will be without opener Devon Conway for the first Test against Australia starting on Thursday (February 29) in Wellington. The left-hander is still nursing an injury to his left thumb sustained during the recently-concluded T20I series against the same opposition. The team management have called-up Henry Nicholls into the squad as replacement but Will Young is likely to take up the spot vacated by Conway at the top of the order.

Conway picked up the injury during the second T20I in Auckland last Friday. He did not keep wickets or bat in the match after the blow and was subsequently ruled out of the third match of the series. Initial scans had cleared him of fracture but further investigation has revealed concerns with the thumb. He will now undergo further assessment during the week to ascertain treatment and recovery period. The second Test of the series starts in Christchurch on March 8.

“It’s disappointing for Devon to be ruled out on the eve of an important match,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “He’s a class player batting at the top of the order for us and I know he was really looking forward to this series.”

New Zealand had also been sweating on the fitness of Rachin Ravindra after the all-rounder experienced soreness in his left knee and sat out the final T20I but Stead confirmed that the 24-year-old rising star would in fact be available to take the field at Basin Reserve.

The Black Caps played four seamers in their last Test, against South Africa, but Stead said that may have been a mistake in hindsight. However, given the greenish tinge to the pitch at Basin Reserve, they are likely to be tempted to add Scott Kuggeleijn to the trio of Tim Southee, Matt Henry and William O’Rourke.

“I think in hindsight, we probably got that wrong the way that the pitch did behave,” Stead said. “We’ve certainly got Mitch Santner here as that option and we’ll certainly consider him as well.”

New Zealand have not beaten Australia in a Test match since 2011 and Stead said the series was an opportunity for New Zealand, who currently sit atop the World Test Championship standings, to correct the anomaly against the reigning champions of the format.

“We don’t play Australia that often, which is strange considering that they’re just across the Tasman there,” Stead said. “But, look, they always set the benchmark and are current world Test champions and they are that for a reason. They’re a very good side. But that’s our opportunity. And that’s for us to go out and I guess show our wares and we’re certainly looking forward to the challenge that is ahead.”