NZ v IND 2020: New Zealand called up Matt Henry as cover for Neil Wagner ahead of 1st Test

Wagner is awaiting the birth of his first child and might miss the series opener in Wellington.

Matt Henry | Getty

Ahead of the first Test against India in Wellington, New Zealand have called up Matt Henry as cover for left-arm pacer Neil Wagner, who is awaiting the birth of his first child and might miss the series opener, starting February 21.

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“Matt Henry has been called into the BLACKCAPS Test squad as cover for Neil Wagner who is awaiting the birth of his child. Henry will arrive in Wellington this evening,” the official handle of New Zealand Cricket tweeted.

Henry, 28, wasn’t initially named in the 13-man squad as the New Zealand selectors opted to go with an uncapped pacer Kyle Jamieson. If Wagner couldn’t participate in the opening Test then the hosts are likely to hand Jamieson a debut cap instead of picking Henry straight into the playing XI.

Having made his red-ball debut in 2015, Henry has played 12 Tests so far. The right-arm fast bowler last featured in the New Year’s Test against Australia in Sydney in which he claimed just two wickets.

The Kiwis will enter into the Test series on the back of a historic clean sweep over India in a three-match ODI series.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 19 Feb, 2020

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