Not Will Young! New Zealand Pick THIS 34-Year-Old to Replace Kane Williamson for 2nd Test vs England
New Zealand confirmed on Tuesday that Henry Nicholls will take Kane Williamson's place in their playing XI for the second Test against England, which will start on Wednesday at The Oval.
Nicholls has been called in after Kane Williamson retired from international cricket immediately following New Zealand's defeat in the opening Test at Lord's earlier this month. His retirement has left a gaping hole in the Black Caps batting line-up, with Williamson retiring as New Zealand's all-time leading run scorer across all formats.
Captain Tom Latham stated on Tuesday that Nicholls was selected over Will Young and that he would slot into the key number three spot.
Nicholls Gets The Call-Up
The call-up represents Nicholls' return to the Test side, more than 11 months since his last appearance in the red ball format against Zimbabwe. The 34-year-old now faces the unenviable task of replacing one of the greatest players in New Zealand's cricketing history, but Latham is confident that Nicholls is ready for the challenge.
Latham insisted that Nicholls' vast experience in the domestic circuit for Canterbury would see him adapt quickly to the international stage.
Latham said
"It's a really exciting opportunity for him to come back into the side in a role, at three, that he's been doing for Canterbury at home."
"I think the good thing with Henry is he's always been able to adapt to situations. He's pretty much batted from the top to the middle throughout his international career, and he'll do whatever is required for the team."
Nicholls has played 58 Test matches for New Zealand, and his experience in this form of the game will be crucial for the side as they look to hit back after their heavy defeat at Lord's.
Also Read | Brendan McCullum Breaks Silence On Ben Stokes After Chelsea Nightclub Incident
Team Backs Williamson's Decision
Williamson's retirement mid-series came as a shock to the cricket world and left the Black Caps with arguably the greatest batter of their era missing from their side. The team however completely backed Williamson's decision.