New Zealand coach Gary Stead has said it’s likely that the team will look at replacements for Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme, both of whom are recovering from injuries ahead of the three-match tour of Australia, but remained “quietly optimistic” that the duo will get fit in time.
“I don’t know if I’m confident, but I’m quietly optimistic they’re tracking where we want them to be,” Stead said. “But it’s a long way to go if we know they’re not going to play, so we’d likely look at replacements.”
New Zealand played Matt Henry and Daryl Mitchell for Boult and de Grandhomme respectively against England in Hamilton, and also have Lockie Ferguson waiting in the wings for a chance in the Test arena.
Both Boult and de Grandhomme suffered muscle injuries in the first Test in Mount Maunganui, which the hosts won by an innings and 65 runs. Boult was only able to bowl one over on the final day and walked off the field after experiencing pain on the right side of his ribs. De Grandhomme, on the other hand, suffered a tear to his left lower abdominal muscle.
“Both Colin and Trent are progressing well, which is encouraging for us,” Stead said. “Colin could have kept bowling through the last Test so he’s probably just a little more advanced. But Trent rocked up well today.
“Both have rolled their arm over at a very low level in the last two days. But both are going to have to prove their fitness a couple of days out from the first Test and bowl a decent spell of 10-12 overs at least over two or three spells.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson lauded his team’s progress in this two-match series and looked forward to the “tough” tour of Australia.
“We have a lot of big cricket coming up over ‘The Ditch’ (Tasman Sea) and it will be a tough challenge, but a couple of good matches for us,” he said. “We always know that going over there will be tough. We must keep playing what is in front of us. That was a positive (outcome) in these two matches.”
The first Test, which starts on December 12, is a day-night affair in Perth but isn’t preceded by any pink-ball practice game.
“It’s just another thing to adapt to,” Williamson reflected on the tight scheduling. “Such is the international schedule. We fly out in a couple of days, have a bit of training and we’re straight into another match. So it is quite a quick turnaround.
“The conditions – the surfaces – are quite different. They will bounce a bit more. This was a brilliant series win for us, but we’re going to have to adapt quickly. We know it’s tough – a lot of the guys have been there before – and we know they’re very strong, clinical in their own [backyard]. We’ll look forward to the challenge.
