Canterbury\u2019s Mitchell Hay will replace the injured Tom Blundell in the New Zealand team to play the second Test against the West Indies starting tomorrow in Wellington. <\/p>\n
Hay will be the first wicketkeeper to make a Test debut for New Zealand since 2017.<\/p>\n
Coach Rob Walter said: \u201cMitch is a young cricketer who\u2019s already contributed well to the white-ball side. He also has an excellent record at first-class level with Canterbury.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving him come into a Test squad is a great moment in his career and we\u2019re really excited to see him play his part.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two other potential debutants, bowlers Kristian Clarke and Michael Rae, have been named in the 14-man squad for the Test at the Basin Reserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cKristian and Michael are both identified players of interest with great ability, and have both been good performers for their domestic sides over the past few years,\u201d Walter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey both have good skill with the red-ball, and there\u2019s a great opportunity for them to show that skill for us at the highest level of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke and Rae join the squad following injuries <\/a>to Nathan Smith (side) and Matt Henry (calf) during the drawn first Test against the Windies <\/a>in Christchurch. Blundell strained a hamstring during the Test.<\/p>\n The injuries to front-line quick bowlers Smith and Henry meant the inexperienced Zak Foulkes and Jacob Duffy had to shoulder a large share of the bowling burden late in the West Indies\u2019 second innings.<\/p>\n The good news for the Black Caps is they will be bolstered by the return of Glenn Phillips.<\/p>\n After recovering from a groin injury, Phillips played the first two Plunket Shield fixtures for Otago, scoring 130 runs at an average of 43, and taking nine wickets at an average of 33.<\/p>\n Kyle Jamieson is continuing his red-ball return plan, playing the recent Plunket Shield match for Canterbury against the Central Stags.<\/p>\n A playing XI will be announced during the toss at 10.30am tomorrow.<\/p>\n Black Caps Test squad<\/p>\n Tom Latham (c) \u2013 Canterbury, Michael Bracewell \u2013 Wellington Firebirds, Kristian Clarke* \u2013 Northern Districts, Devon Conway \u2013 Wellington Firebirds, Jacob Duffy \u2013 Otago Volts, Zak Foulkes \u2013 Canterbury, Mitchell Hay* \u2013 Canterbury, Daryl Mitchell \u2013 Canterbury, Glenn Phillips – Otago Volts, Rachin Ravindra \u2013 Wellington Firebirds, Michael Rae* \u2013 Canterbury, Blair Tickner \u2013 Central Stags, Kane Williamson \u2013 Northern Districts, Will Young \u2013 Central Stags.<\/p>\n * uncapped Test player.<\/p>\n Unavailable due to injury: Matt Henry (calf), Nathan Smith (side), Tom Blundell (hamstring), Mitchell Santner (groin), Will O\u2019Rourke (back), Matt Fisher (shin).<\/p>\n