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'We don't select people to drop them': Stead resistant to change for Blackcaps' final Test against England
Stephen Foote • December 10th, 2024 11:00 am
Photo: Photosport
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead is resisting the urge to change for the final test against England in Hamilton, starting Saturday.
With the series and the World Test Championship final out of reach, the match will offer little more the chance to salvage some pride after two demoralising defeats against the tourists in Christchurch and Wellington.
With Devon Conway absent for the birth of his first child, Will Young will slot in as his replacement in what is likely to be the only tweak to the starting XI.
Stead insists he's paid no attention to the public calls of discontent regarding his resistance to risk in his line-up, which he says goes against his own selection ethos of ensuring players are able to operate without pressure and with the knowledge that their spots are secure.
That approach fosters a better team-first mentality overall, he adds.
Smithy gives his post-mortem on Blackcaps heavy loss in 2nd Test to England | Sport Nation
"The idea of looking for new players - you have to first of all be very, very sure that they are better than the incumbents and you have to be sure that they're ready to play Test cricket," Stead told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
"One of the things I've said in the past is we don't select people to drop them and the last thing I want is revolving doors the whole time.
"I think all that happens then is players start looking over their shoulder. They play for themselves and, in a country of our size, we can't afford to do that. We've got to play very, very well as a team together."
After two lacklustre outings, Tim Southee's position is one of those under the heaviest fire. Brendon MCullum's men have clearly been targeting the seamer, who has now taken just 15 wickets at an average of 61.66 this year.
There have been widespread calls for sentimentality to put to the side for the retiring 35-year-old to be left out of what would be his 107th and final Test match for New Zealand.
Smithy questions Blackcaps' selections for England Test series at home | Sport Nation
But Stead said he's tuned out any of that external noise, saying - should Southee play at Seddon Park - he should be paid the respect he deserves for his outstanding service to the game in Aotearoa.
"I honestly don't listen to a lot of the other stuff out there because I would say it would be a bit of a distraction. But to me, Tim's been an incredible servant for New Zealand cricket," he said.
"If he does play this last Test, I think we should celebrate him in style. He's given 16 to 17 years of service to this New Zealand cricket team and that alone is something outstanding that I think is worth celebrating."
That said, Stead was adamant there's no guarantee that Southee will be part of the action in The Tron.
"There is a chance we don't play him. That will depend on the conditions up there and whether he fits into our best 11 or not."
The upcoming match is the last for the Blackcaps in the current World Test Championship cycle, with a break of six months until the next two-year stretch begins.
It's also the last for Stead before his contract with NZC comes up for renewal around June. Although he's yet to enter into any discussions with the governing body regarding his future with squad, Stead says he still loves his job.
"It's a demanding role. It's a reasonably high profile role in terms of being in the spotlight, but I still enjoy the role.
"I love working with this group of guys and I get a lot of joy out of it as well."
Listen to the full interview below:
Sport Nation has live ball-by-ball commentary of the final Test match between the Blackcaps and England from December 14 - available on all NZ frequencies and the new Sport Nation app - available on App Store and Google Play.
