IPL-injured Mitchell Santner heals in time for ENG vs NZ 1st Test

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New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has added Mitchell Santner to the squad for the 3-match Test series against England, starting at Lord’s on June 4. The all-rounder joined the team on May 30, after the Kiwis dismantled Ireland in Belfast, winning by an innings and 79 runs in a Test that lasted 8 sessions.

Mitchell Santner fit for ENG vs NZ 1st Test

Originally, Santner was ruled out of the first Test against England and wasn’t certain for the last two matches of the tour. On April 23, while fielding for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the all-rounder injured his left shoulder. He left the field and didn’t feature for the remainder of the match or the tournament thereafter.

Mitch Santner is set to join the squad ahead of the Test series against England, starting at Lord's on Thursday.#IREvNZ pic.twitter.com/V0VD2mbmpX

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) May 30, 2026

Mumbai named South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj as his replacement, and NZC revealed that Santner had sustained a ‘grade three ACL shoulder injury’ that would require at least a month to recover. He missed the one-off Ireland Test but has recovered for the England vs New Zealand series.

Santner will replace spin-bowling all-rounder Dean Foxcroft in the squad. The 28-year-old had made his Test debut against Ireland and made 98. However, he bowled just 1 over. Considering Santner is fit, Foxcroft has been released from the squad and will return home.

Besides Santner, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke also missed the Ireland Test. Henry had sustained a low-grade hamstring strain, while the other two were rested. The pacers had flown directly to London to prepare for the England vs New Zealand Test series.

New Zealand’s squad for England Test series

Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner (replaces Dean Foxcroft), Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Ben Sears (travelling reserve)