Ajaz Patel has been selected for the third and final Tegel Test against the West Indies starting this Thursday, 18 December in Mt Maunganui.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell also returns to the side after missing the second Test to recover from a hamstring tear sustained in the first Test at the start of December.
Patel joins the side in place of his Central Stags teammate, Blair Tickner, who dislocated his shoulder fielding on the boundary during the second Test in Wellington.
Patel, who famously took all ten wickets in a Test innings against India at Wankhede Stadium in 2021, could be in line to play his first Test match on home soil since February of 2020.
Patel’s last Test appearance came during the third Test in the recent Tour of India in 2024, where he produced a man of the match performance with figures of 11-160 as part of the BLACKCAPS’ 3-0 whitewash series victory.
Speaking on Patel, Head Coach Rob Walter said.
“Ajaz is someone we can trust to come in and do a job if required. Bay Oval, as we know, has typically taken more turn than other surfaces around New Zealand, and the fact he turns the ball away from the right-hander is very appealing.
“Taking another spinner into the third Test also gives a bit more variance in our bowling attack, along with our seamers who have been doing a great job thus far this series.”
Speaking on Tom Blundell, Walter said.
“Tom has recovered very well from his hamstring tear, and we’re grateful to have someone of his caliber back in the side.
“His experience is invaluable, even more so as we have a few guys in the squad who are relatively new to Test cricket – he is a leader in the group and we’re very pleased to see him back.”
Mitch Hay will return to domestic duties with Canterbury after a solid debut while Blundell rehabilitated his hamstring. Walter spoke on the young wicketkeeper.
“We know Mitch’s quality from his time with the white-ball side, and he did a great job for us in Wellington - it’s very pleasing to have that added depth at wicketkeeper.”
Fast bowling quartet Michael Rae, Zak Foulkes, Jacob Duffy and Kristian Clarke all remain in the squad for the final Test, with Rae impressing on debut in Wellington.
“We couldn’t have asked for more from Michael on his debut,” Rob Walter said.
“The energy he brings to the group and the added benefit of his height means he’s able to extract plenty out of the surface, which he did so in Wellington.
Kyle Jamieson is progressing well through his red-ball return-to-play plan. He will continue to work closely with BLACKCAPS support staff on his return to the Test arena. Jamieson is working through a conditioning block after a full start to the summer, as part of his preparation for what is shaping up to be a busy first half of 2026.
The remainder of the squad remains unchanged from the second Test.
BLACKCAPS Test Squad: Third Tegel Test v West Indies
Bay Oval, Tauranga – 18-22 December.
Tom Latham (C) – Canterbury
Tom Blundell – Wellington Firebirds
Michael Bracewell – Wellington Firebirds
Kristian Clarke – Northern Districts
Devon Conway – Wellington Firebirds
Jacob Duffy – Otago Volts
Zak Foulkes – Canterbury
Daryl Mitchell – Canterbury
Ajaz Patel – Central Stags
Glenn Phillips – Otago Volts
Michael Rae – Canterbury
Rachin Ravindra – Wellington Firebirds
Kane Williamson – Northern Districts
Will Young – Central Stags
