Kane Williamson will delay his departure with the BLACKCAPS Test squad for the three-Test series against India due to a groin strain.
Williamson experienced groin discomfort during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will require a period of rehabilitation before joining the squad in India.
BLACKCAPS selector Sam Wells said the plan was still for Williamson to play some part in the three-Test series which starts in Bengaluru next week.
“The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” said Wells.
“We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour.
“While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series.”
Uncapped Auckland Aces batter Mark Chapman will join the squad as cover for Williamson.
Chapman, who has become a mainstay in the BLACKCAPS white-ball sides, averages 41.9 in first-class cricket, with six centuries, including 114 for New Zealand A against India A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in 2020.
He featured in three of the Aces Plunket Shield fixtures last summer, notching 245 runs at 40, including 123 against the Otago Volts in Dunedin in February.
Wells said Chapman possessed the right skillset for Test cricket in the sub-continent.
“We believe Mark is one of our best players of spin and has a proven track-record in the sub-continent,” said Wells.
“Mark has displayed an ability to play spin proactively in the international arena, and combined with his excellent first-class record, we see him as someone who can succeed in the type of conditions we expect to encounter in India.”
Allrounder Michael Bracewell will travel with the squad for the first Test in Bengaluru before returning home for the birth of his second child and will be replaced by Ish Sodhi for the remainder of the series.
The remainder of the squad is unchanged from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, with Tom Latham leading the side for the first time as full-time Test captain.
BLACKCAPS squad | Test tour of India
Tom Latham (c)
Tom Blundell (wk)
Michael Bracewell (1st Test only)
Mark Chapman*
Devon Conway
Matt Henry
Daryl Mitchell
Will O’Rourke
Ajaz Patel
Glenn Phillips
Rachin Ravindra
Mitchell Santner
Ben Sears
Ish Sodhi (2nd & 3rd Test only)
Tim Southee
Kane Williamson
Will Young
*Uncapped
Gary Stead will lead the BLACKCAPS coaching staff, alongside batting coach Luke Ronchi and bowling coach Jacob Oram.
Sri Lankan spin maestro Rangana Herath, who was part of the coaching staff for the recent Tests against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will continue his role as spin-coach for the India series.
The squad departs for India on Friday, ahead of the 1st Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru starting on October 16.
BLACKCAPS Test tour of India
1st Test – 16-20 October, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
2nd Test – 24-28 October, MCA Stadium, Pune
3rd Test – 1-5 November, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
