New Zealand have called up uncapped pacer Michael Rae for the second Test against the West Indies, scheduled to begin on December 10 at Basin Reserve, Wellington. Rae earned his first call-up to the national team after Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were injured during the first Test in Christchurch.
Both Henry and Smith are doubtful for the second Test, especially given the short turnaround between the first two matches. Their injuries left New Zealand with only two leading seamers, meaning a significant workload for the remaining bowlers.
As a result, Rae was added to lighten the load on the hosts West Indies managed to survive the entire Day 5 against their depleted bowling attack to draw the first Test. The 6ft 6in fast bowler has been a regular in domestic cricket in recent years, playing 69 first-class matches and claiming 205 wickets at an average of 33.06, including three five-wicket hauls.
Rae started the second round of the Plunket Shield for Canterbury, taking 3 for 65 in the first innings against Central Districts in Napier before sitting out the second innings. In addition to his domestic career in New Zealand, he played five first-class matches for Warwickshire in county cricket, taking 14 wickets at an average of 30.28. Rae and Blair Tickner, who were back-up fast bowlers in Christchurch, could be part of the playing XI in Wellington.
The New Zealand team management will also be keeping a close eye on the fitness of Jamieson, who has returned to the Plunket Shield for the current round, and Ben Sears, who is currently playing white-ball club cricket in Melbourne. With Sears out injured, the management confirmed that he would not be rushed back into red-ball cricket.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
December 7, 2025
