Mitchell Santner Returns to New Zealand Test Squad for England Series

Mitchell Santner has been recalled to New Zealand's Test squad for the upcoming series against England after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the IPL. His return is timely as the team prepares for the first Test at Lord's. New Zealand recently secured a victory over Ireland, while England, under coach Brendon McCullum, looks to bounce back after a long break since the Ashes. This series promises to be an exciting contest as both teams aim for success.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 31, 2026, 17:46 IST

Mitchell Santner Rejoins Test Squad

New Zealand has welcomed back Mitchell Santner into their Test team for the upcoming series against England, which is set to commence at Lord's on June 4. This comes after Santner successfully recovered from a shoulder injury he sustained while playing for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Initially, the 34-year-old all-rounder was ruled out of both the first Test at Lord's and a one-off Test against Ireland due to a grade-three shoulder injury that required a month of rehabilitation. However, following his recovery, Santner arrived in the UK on Saturday and is now ready to join the squad ahead of the first Test on Thursday.

Team Updates Before the England Series

In their recent match, New Zealand achieved an innings victory over Ireland in less than three days, thanks to impressive bowling from Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner, with Daryl Mitchell also making a significant contribution with his medium pace. Matt Henry was absent from this match due to a minor hamstring strain and has traveled to London with Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke to prepare for the England series.

England's Challenge Under McCullum

On the other hand, England enters this series without having played since the conclusion of the Ashes in January. Coach Brendon McCullum aims to rejuvenate the team's performance against New Zealand, recalling their previous 3-0 defeat under his leadership four years ago.