Key sentence:
- Williamson informed reporters his wife Sarah was ready to give birth “around mid-to-late December” with their first child.
- The captain returned to the hometown of Tauranga to attend the appointment as well as Stead was initially unclear if he would return.
- Since about the weekend, steady rain in Wellington meant the teams hadn’t had a real good look at the ground.
- When we see the wicket, we’ll make that call,” Stead stated.
Later on Thursday, New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson will join the team ahead of the second test towards West Indies since he made a whistle-stop return safely to attend a doctor’s appointment with his pregnant wife, said coach Gary Stead.
Williamson to reporters:
Last week, Williamson informed reporters his wife Sarah was ready to give birth “around mid-to-late December” with their first child, as well as Stead, stated after their first test win that the team embraced him taking paternity leave.
On Thursday, the captain returned to the hometown of Tauranga to attend the appointment as well as Stead was initially unclear if he would return, addressing reporters at the Basin Reserve that he could miss the match.
Williamson later informed Stead, however, that he would return to the team on Thursday evening in Wellington.
Stead about Williamson’s career’s best:
Stead added that if Williamson, who scored a career-best 251 during the first match at Seddon Park in Hamilton, was called at the Friday toss, he could not be substituted if he had to leave the game.
Stead said He is very valuable to us and not just for the runs he scores.”
Wicketkeeper BJ Watling returned to the side so after he dropped down the order and also took the gloves at Hamilton; Tom Blundell will step up to open the innings with Tom Latham.
Will Young is likely to decline out whereas Devon Conway was released to play for New Zealand’ A in Nelson, who was taken in as batting cover.
The team didn’t have a proper look at the pitch:
Since about the weekend, steady rain in Wellington meant the teams hadn’t had a real good look at the ground, but Stead said that it was likely that they would go again with four pace bowlers.
Whether the all-rounder Daryl Mitchell or left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner takes the final spot is the only probable toss-up decision to be made.
“When we see the wicket, we’ll make that call,” Stead stated.
“They are usually good wickets in the Basin and also have good bounce as well as carry, so hopefully they will also have a big impact on the game if our seam bowlers bowl well.”
