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Kane Williamson Returns, New Zealand Call up Lockie Ferguson for England Tests
By Shruti - Nov 15, 2019 9:59 pm
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New Zealand announced their squad for the Test series against England. Regular captain Kane Williamson has been declared fit and he has returned in the Test squad while white-ball pacer Lockie Ferguson earned his maiden Test call-up on Friday.

ferguson
Lockie Ferguson

Kane Williamson, the world’s third-ranked Test batsman, didn’t feature in the recent Twenty20 series because of a hip injury. New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen said that the two-week break had helped him and he will take a part in the historic inaugural Test at his home ground of Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

“Kane’s made good progress over the past fortnight and we’re delighted to welcome back a player of his class and experience,” Larsen said when naming a 15-man squad to face England and Australia over the next two months.

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The call-up for Lockie Ferguson and the return of leg-spinner Todd Astle in place of spinners Will Somerville and Ajaz Patel are the only changes New Zealand made from their recent away series against Sri Lanka. Lockie Ferguson came in the squad on the back of an impressive domestic season. He was the second-highest wicket-taker at the World Cup in England and Wales earlier this year.

“There’s no doubt Lockie has been knocking on the door for a while now and we’re delighted to finally bring him into the Test fold,” Larsen said. “It’s well documented he has raw pace, but he also possesses a quality bowling skill set and has proved his durability.”

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (Captain), Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling

The first Test against England will begin on November 21.