Mitchell Santner added to New Zealand squad for first Test against England

Santner had initially been ruled out of the recently-completed one-off Test Ireland and first of three Tests against England after suffering grade three ACL shoulder injury while playing for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

The 34-year-old left-arm spinner has now though been declared fit and has linked up with his New Zealand teammates in London to prepare for the series against England.

Santner will replace Dean Foxcroft in the squad, with the latter scoring 98 on Test debut as the Black Caps beat Ireland by an innings and 79 runs inside three days.

Fast bowler Matt Henry missed the Ireland Test with a low-grade hamstring strain, instead flying to London to prepare for the England series alongside fellow paceman Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke.

The Kiwis will be coming up against an England side that has not played any Test cricket since falling to a 4-1 series defeat in the Ashes that concluded in January.

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