New Zealand’s Test squad is set to play six Tests in Asia over the next two months, and they will have the expertise of Rangana Herath and Vikram Rathour to guide them. Herath, a renowned spin-bowling coach, will be with the squad for three Tests, including one against Afghanistan and two in Sri Lanka. Rathour, however, will only join the team for the one-off Afghanistan Test, scheduled to begin on September 9 in Greater Noida, India.
New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead expressed that both Herath and Rathour are highly respected in the cricket world. He believes that their players will benefit significantly from learning from these two experienced coaches. Stead specifically highlighted the advantage Herath’s knowledge will bring to their left-arm spinners – Ajaz Patel, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra – during the Tests on the subcontinent.
Herath’s experience at Galle, where he has taken over 100 Test wickets, will be invaluable for the New Zealand side. Galle is the venue for their two Tests against Sri Lanka, and having Herath’s insights will be a major asset for the team. The upcoming Tests provide a crucial opportunity for New Zealand’s spinners to hone their skills in challenging conditions.
Following the Sri Lanka series in September, New Zealand is set to return to India for an additional three Test matches in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. While the Afghanistan Test will not count towards the World Test Championship (WTC), the other five matches will be crucial in the championship standings.
In addition to their primary spin options of Patel, Santner, and Ravindra, New Zealand will also rely on Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips for off-spin duties in the Afghanistan and Sri Lanka Tests. Kiwis have not reveled the squad for the India series yet.
Herath, who has 433 Test wickets from 93 matches, replaces Saqlain Mushtaq as New Zealand’s spin-bowling coach. Rathour, a former Indian batsman and coach, recently ended his tenure as India’s batting coach after their T20 World Cup victory.
