New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner has unraveled his secrets regarding his witty and impeccable responses to Australian sledgers during the historic day-night Test at the enigmatic Adelaide Oval. Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon came to Santner and enquired about his nervousness, to which he retaliated in a very positive manner.
The 23 year old admitted that he was indeed feeling the jitters in his debut test but refrained from exuding it for his opponents to exploit and persecute him verbally. Santner, who bagged two wickets and top-scored in the second innings with 45 runs in the third Test, insisted that he just wanted to keep it simple and played the match like any other game. This enabled him retain his place in the test squad for a two match series against Sri Lanka, commencing on December 10th in Dunedin.
Previously, New Zealand Cricket Board had announced a provisional 12-man squad for their upcoming home Test series against Sri Lanka. The side included all the players but Matt Henry, Hamish Rutherford and Luke Ronchi, who recently featured in the three-Test series against Australia Down Under. The three of them will return to their respective domestic sides as the others do national duty in Dunedin and Hamilton.
Santner, who made his debut in the first-ever day-night Test at Adelaide with scores of 31 and 45 and two wickets, Australia emerged victorious in the first test match played under lights with a pink ball as they defeated the kiwis within three days, by three wickets, under conditions favourable for the bowlers.