ENG vs NZ: Mitchell Santner added to New Zealand squad for three-match Test series
Mitchell Santner (Image Source: ICC)
Published - 31 May 2026, 04:10 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has been added to New Zealand squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against England. Santner initially wasn’t a part of the team after sustaining a shoulder injury while playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026).
The 34-year-old has finally recovered from his injury and landed in the UK on Saturday, and will link up with the squad ahead of the first Test. He also missed the recently concluded one-off Test against Ireland, after scans revealed a "grade three ACL shoulder injury" that required a month's rehab.
Earlier, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had said that Santner would be monitored ahead of the second and third Tests. However, he’s now all set to replace spin all-rounder Dean Foxcroft in the playing XI, who scored a brilliant 98 on debut against Ireland.
Santner first sustained a niggle on his right shoulder while fielding during Mumbai Indians’ second fixture against Delhi Capitals (DC). As a result, he missed the following match against Rajasthan Royals (RR).
However, he further suffered a left shoulder injury while taking a catch near the boundary during Mumbai’s seventh fixture against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which ended his season. The left-arm spinner played four matches for MI in IPL 2026, scalping five wickets at an average of 25 and an economy of 8.92.
New Zealand beat Ireland by an innings and 79 runs
Meanwhile, New Zealand warmed up for the England Test series by beating Ireland by an innings and 79 runs inside three days in the one-off Test at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast. Frontline seamer Matt Henry also missed the match due to a low-grade hamstring strain and flew to London to prepare for the England series along with Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke.
New Zealand will take on England in the first Test, beginning on Thursday, June 4 at Lord’s, London. The Kiwis were whitewashed 3-0 on their previous tour, which began England’s ‘Bazball’ era under the leadership of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
