![Gary Stead has urged Nicholls to grind his way back into the Test setup.](https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/1280x960/filters:format(webp)/mazaplay/media/media_files/1ZXM7mWVdGN9fn2kDCWH.png)
Gary Stead has urged Nicholls to grind his way back into the Test setup.
New Zealand's middle-order stalwart, Henry Nicholls, has been axed from the Test squad for the upcoming South Africa series, marking a significant shift in selection. The 32-year-old's form has nosedived since March 2023, with 11 Test matches yielding not a single score above 40. Nicholls, a mainstay in the Blackcaps lineup since his 2016 debut, has averaged a paltry 16.6 in this lean period, a far cry from his career average of 37.16.
Head coach Gary Stead acknowledged the tough decision but stated that it is by no means the end of Nicholls' Test career, especially considering that he is still only 32. "His currency is weight of runs, isn't it? To do that in domestic cricket and show that he's the next person in line is still really possible to do. He's still relatively young in his career- he's only early 30s- we definitely don't see it as the end for him. It's definitely a setback but there's no reason why he can't make it back again," Stead said.
This opens the door for young gun Rachin Ravindra, who impressed during the World Cup, to make his Test comeback. Ravindra has played three Tests without much success but his recent returns, especially in the ODI World Cup in India and the belief that he is a generational player, has gone in his favour. "We just felt it was time for Rachin in Test cricket and we obviously know the talent he is and feel that he will make a really good fist of it at this stage of his career," Stead said when asked about Ravindra's selection.