New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against West Indies in Wellington starting Friday (December 11) as he awaits the birth of his first child.
It's a sudden u-turn from the Kiwi batting great who had earlier told coach Gary Stead that he will be available for the Test at the Basin Reserve.
Read Also: Kane Williamson wants New Zealand to "build on" the huge win in first Test
"Williamson had flown home to Tauranga, 500 kilometres from Wellington, to be with his wife Sarah on the eve of the match," stated AFP in a report.
"After confirming his availability he flew back to Wellington where, after further discussions with Stead, he agreed it would be best if he returned to be with his wife."
"It's a decision that we've come to around the best interests for him and for Sarah, and also for our team," Stead said in a video posted by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
Williamson had said previously that his wife is due to give birth to their child in "mid-to-late December".
"He isn't the first person to have a baby and miss a Test match so our thoughts and wishes are with Sarah and Kane at this time and we want to make sure first and foremost the mother and baby are well looked after," the coach added.
Williamson's outstanding double hundred had helped the Kiwis win by an innings & 134 runs in Hamilton and also go 1-0 up in the two-match series. With him unavailable, opening batsman Tom Latham will lead while Will Young drops down a spot to bat No.3.
BJ Watling, who has recovered from his hamstring strain, will resume wicketkeeping duties and Tom Blundell will be back opening with Latham after taking the gloves in Watling's absence.
The only spot undecided seems to be the all-rounder's, with Stead informing of discussions around bringing in Mitchell Santner in place of Daryl Mitchell.
In the visitors' camp, Joshua da Silva looks set for a Test debut after being named as cover for injured wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and Chemar Holder is likely to come in for absent Kemar Roach, who has returned home due to his father's untimely demise.
The famous Basin Reserve wind and another green track are definitely going to test the West Indies, whose skipper Jason Holder understands his boys will have to be at their best to weather the storm.
"You've just got to keep your head down a little longer and try to push through the wind," said Holder, who described the surface to be having "just as much grass if not more" than the surface for the last Test.
"We let ourselves down in the first Test match but we have to keep going," he added. "You look at the ability and what this team can produce, it's there. We've done it before."
(Inputs from AFP)
