Seven wickets on his test debut wasn't enough for Will Somerville to keep his place in the Black Caps squad.
Ajaz Patel has been preferred in the Black Caps' squad to take on Sri Lanka in two tests, starting at the Basin Reserve on Saturday. With only one spinner set to play in the home tests, the Black Caps selectors opted to retain Patel ahead of Somerville, with both players having performed well in the series victory over Pakistan.
Patel is the specialist spinner in the 13 player squad, with Somerville and Ish Sodhi released to play in the fourth round of the Plunket Shield, along with Tom Blundell, who also drops out from the victorious United Arab Emirates touring party, with Will Young taking his place.
Colin de Grandhomme retains his place in the squad, despite the all-rounder averaging just 10.5 in six innings with the bat in the UAE. However, a handy cameo in the third test, a lack of like-for-like replacements, and contributions with the ball (five wickets at 25.6), was enough for the 32-year-old to keep his spot.
Patel (3-42) and Somerville (3-52) both had a strong case for retention as well, having ripped through Pakistan in the fourth innings of the third test. Somerville also claimed four first-innings wickets to finish with match figures of 7-127, on debut.
