Gary Stead admitted misreading the pitch for the NZ vs AUS test and regretted omitting Mitchell Santner, hinting at the latter’s return for the second Test.
New Zealand suffered a crushing 172-run defeat against Australia in the first Test at Wellington, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Following the loss, head coach Gary Stead took responsibility for key decisions that backfired.
Stead acknowledged misreading the green pitch at Basin Reserve, which offered unexpected bounce and turn. He also expressed regret about leaving out spinner Mitchell Santner, who could have capitalized on the turning conditions.
“It was a tricky wicket,” Stead stated at a post-match conference. “It spun and bounced a lot more than we were expecting. If we knew it was going to bounce, then Santner would have played, so yeah, we got that wrong.”
Regretting his decision to field four seamers, Stead hinted at Santner’s potential return for the second Test in Christchurch, depending on the pitch. “He’s the guy we have trust in,” he stated, “He is certainly an option.”
Meanwhile, discussions regarding replacing the injured Will O’Rourke are ongoing. While initial reports suggested Neil Wagner’s return, recent news indicates pace bowler Ben Sears has been called up instead.
Despite this setback, New Zealand will seek to end the series on a high note, chasing their first Test win over Australia since 2011. “We will go to Christchurch believing we can win,” concluded Stead, displaying cautious optimism.
Last Updated on March 4, 2024
