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'It's a good place to be in' - Black Caps torn as spinner conundrum takes a turn

December 9, 2018

Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville shone in their first international appearances against Pakistan.

Black Caps coach Gary Stead says he's excited by his side's spin prospects heading into the 2018/19 home season, with no fewer than five possible options to chose from ahead of next week's first Test with Sri Lanka.

Having returned home from the UAE after a 2-1 series win over Pakistan, the Black Caps' spin stocks are brimming, with rookies Ajaz Patel and Will Somerville both putting in winning performances in the first and third Tests respectively.

Speaking to media at Auckland Airport, Stead told reporters that the conundrum of picking one spinner from five candidates was a brilliant problem to have.

As things stand, Somerville and Patel are joined in the queue by the likes of Ish Sodhi who featured in the UAE, while Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle missed the series through injury.

"We'll have to pick one - it's hard and that's a really good place to be in," Stead began.

"You look at the likes of Mitch Santner and Todd Astle who are both out as well, and then we've had three spinners on this tour with Ish, Ajaz and Will.

"It's a good place to be in, it's not easy, but there will be one that's selected."

The Black Caps' first Test of the summer begins on Saturday December 15, taking on Sri Lanka at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

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