Devon Conway will miss the third Test against England, making room for the return of batter Will Young. Conway, who is out of touch, is expecting his first child and will not travel with the Black Caps to Hamilton, where the series’ final Test begins on Saturday. England now has a commanding 2-0 lead after defeating New Zealand by 323 runs in the second Test in Wellington on Sunday. Middle-order hitter Mark Chapman will take Conway’s position in the team, although the more experienced Young is expected to be elevated to the starting XI.
Following a miscarriage at the beginning of the year, Conway’s wife Kim went public on social media, stating that she did not want to feel embarrassed or guilty about it.
“We will have our miracle one day and we will love them with everything,” she wrote in a post on Instagram.
Will Young, who was the player of the series on the historic tour of India last month with 244 runs at 48.40 but was a spectator for the last two weeks as England swept to an unassailable 2-0 lead, is expected to start due to Conway’s absence. Young was the unlucky victim of Kane Williamson’s return from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the India series. Williamson has continued where he left off, with two half-centuries as the team’s leading run-scorer (195 at 48.75). Nevertheless, Conway and the rest of the lineup have been deemed inadequate. On Sunday, the left-hander’s series average fell to 5.25 after a five-ball duck.
After failing to hit a century for almost two years, Conway has been in poor form. The 33-year-old has been removed from the England series after scoring 2, 8, 11, and 0. Young, 32, has primarily played as an opener during his 19-Test career, although he batted at number three during the India series.
Black Caps captain Tom Latham was reticent about any additional changes for Friday’s game at Seddon Park following the loss at the Basin Reserve. After staying the same for the first two Test matches, Latham is eager to evaluate the situation before selecting a new starting lineup when the team reassembles in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Given the venue’s flat surfaces, left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner might be considered. Despite being the worst-performing home seamer with four wickets at 61.50, Tim Southee, who will retire from Test cricket at the end of the series, should have his final game at home.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead has expressed the team’s full support for Dev Conway’s decision, stating that family comes first in their environment. He also shared his excitement for Conway and his wife Kim as they prepare to welcome their first child.