Devon Conway To Miss Third Test Against England As He Awaits Birth Of First Child

New Zealand have made a change to their squad for the final Test against England. Opener Devon Conway will not play in Hamilton as he awaits the birth of his first child. The match is set to begin on December 14 at Seddon Park.

Mark Chapman has been brought into the team as a replacement for Conway. New Zealand coach Gary Stead expressed full support for Conway's decision to stay in Wellington. "Family comes first in this environment and we are all really excited for Dev and his wife Kim to welcome their first child," said Stead, according to ICC.

Conway has been struggling with his form recently. In the second Test against England in Wellington, he scored just 11 and 0, contributing to New Zealand's 323-run defeat. This loss marked their second consecutive defeat, eliminating them from contention for next year's ICC World Test Championship Final.

In the first Test at Christchurch, Conway also failed to make an impact, scoring only two and eight. Throughout 2024, he has found it difficult to perform across all formats.

Chapman joins the squad after an impressive performance in the Plunket Shield, where he scored 276 runs. He was part of the Test squad in India recently. Meanwhile, Will Young, who excelled during New Zealand's recent tour of India, might be considered for a call-up after missing the first two Tests against England.

Young played at number three during the India tour, stepping in for Kane Williamson and making valuable contributions with the bat. Despite this, he did not feature in the initial Tests against England.

New Zealand Squad Details

The updated New Zealand squad includes Tom Latham (captain), Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, and Will Young.

Young is expected to open in Hamilton when the third Test between New Zealand and England begins on Saturday (December 14). His inclusion could strengthen New Zealand's batting lineup as they aim to end the series on a positive note.