Allrounder mitch santner

Head Coach Gary Stead: Rachin Ravindra is set to play his first Test at home since 2022 after being selected in the New Zealand Test squad as middle-order batter for the two-match series against South Africa, starting on February 4.

"Hard on the heels of winning the ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year award, Ravindra has been named in the BlackCaps squad for the two-match Test series against the Proteas, starting next week at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.

"Having been brought into the line-up for Henry Nicholls, the 24-year-old is set to bat in the middle order for the first time in his Test career, with Will Young providing batting cover," New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said.