More than four years since last donning the whites, Ish Sodhi has been recalled to the Black Caps squad for their upcoming tour to Pakistan.
The legspinner was yesterday included alongside one-time test player Glenn Phillips and the uncapped Blair Tickner in a 15-man squad for the two-match series, whichstarts in Karachi on December 26.
The tour will be Tim Southee’s first as test captain after Kane Williamson earlier announced he was stepping down as skipper in the longest format.
Sodhi’s last test also came against Pakistan - going wicketless in an innings defeat in Dubai - and only five of his teammates remain from that match in 2018.
The 30-year-old had since fallen behind Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville in the spin ranks, while the all-round skills of Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra had also been preferred.
But with Patel the only player of that quartet earning inclusion for New Zealand’s first tour to Pakistan since 2003, coach Gary Stead felt Sodhi would bring an important point of difference.
“It’s always an exciting time for a player to be selected in a test squad and even more so when you’ve been away for an extended period of time,” Stead said.
“Looking at the current conditions and style of play in the Pakistan and England test series, we feel having a wrist-spinner in the team will be important.
“Ish has been playing international cricket for almost a decade now and we’re backing his skills and experience.”
Since receiving the last of his 17 test caps, Sodhi has been a mainstay of New Zealand’s Twenty20 side, recently becoming the fifth male player in the world to claim 100 T20I wickets.
Like Sodhi, Phillips has made his name in the shortest format, racking up 56 international caps and batting his way to a world ranking of seven while starring at the T20 World Cup.
Glenn Phillips in action against Australia at the World Cup. Photo / Photosport
The 26-year-old played his only test against Australia at the SCG in 2020, scoring a half-century in the first innings, while he boasts a first-class average of 39.80 in 80 innings.
Stead was full of praise for Phillips, who the coach said had taken his white-ball game to new heights in the past two seasons.
“Glenn is clearly a very talented batsman and we’re excited to introduce him back into the test squad for this tour,” Stead said. “His ability to bowl offspin is also a plus point with the prospect of turning pitches.”
Tickner, meanwhile, is the beneficiary of Trent Boult’s decision to play in the Big Bash League while the Black Caps are in Pakistan, along with the continuing absence of Kyle Jamieson as he recovers from a back injury.
Blair Tickner during the first ODI against the Netherlands in March. Photo / Photosport
The 29-year-old Tickner featured in wider squads for test series against South Africa and England in the winter but was unable to earn a debut, having played 20 white-ball internationals.
“Blair’s been with the group for our past two test series and we believe he’s very much ready for test cricket,” Stead said. “He has genuine pace and gets good bounce, which is a real asset to have in sub-continental conditions.”
Along with Boult and Colin de Grandhomme - who also opted out of his central contract - uncapped wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher was the other player excluded from New Zealand’s test team, who suffered a 3-0 series defeat in England.
