WELLINGTON: New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said Monday he had misjudged the first Test wicket and regretted leaving out spinner Mitchell Santner after his side’s heavy defeat to Australia. New Zealand were thumped by 172 runs at Basin Reserve in Wellington after winning the toss and asking Australia to bat on a green wicket that produced bounce and spin.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took 10 wickets in the match while New Zealand had to rely on part-time slow bowlers Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, who took six between them. “If we knew it was going to bounce, then Santner would have played, so yeah we got that wrong,” Stead told reporters in Wellington.

“It was a tricky wicket. It spun and bounced a lot more than what we were expecting,” he said of New Zealand’s decision to go in with four seamers. “I put our hand up to that. It’s not what we have seen from the Basin Reserve in the past either. That played into Nathan Lyon’s hands.”

Stead said Santner could be recalled for the second and final Test depending on the wicket in Christchurch. “He’s the guy we have trust in. He is certainly an option,” Stead added. Uncapped pace bowler Ben Sears has been called up to replace Will O’Rourke, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.

New Zealand are chasing a first Test win over Australia since 2011. “That is what we are here for. There is still a lot of belief in the team,” Stead said. “I thought the way we competed in the second innings was strong, we put Australia under pressure at different times. “We will go to Christchurch believing we can win.”

Meanwhile, Black Caps seamer Will O’Rourke will miss the second Test against Australia in Christchurch this week with a hamstring strain, New Zealand Cricket said Monday. Uncapped pace-bowler Ben Sears has been called up in his place for the second and final home game against Australia, starting Friday at Hagley Park.

The touring Australians lead the series 1-0 after their 172-run victory in the first Test, which finished on Sunday in Wellington. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said 26-year-old Sears, who has taken 58 first-class wickets in 19 appearances for Wellington, was ready for Test cricket.

“Ben’s a young bowler with a quality skill set,” Stead added. “He bowls with genuine pace and gets good bounce which is always a great asset in red ball cricket.” O’Rourke, 22, injured his left hamstring while bowling on Saturday. He requires at least two weeks’ rehabilitation, New Zealand Cricket said.

He impressed on his Test debut last month by taking nine wickets in a home win against South Africa. “It’s disappointing for Will to be ruled out, especially after making such a strong start to his international career,” Stead said.

Veteran Neil Wagner, who announced his retirement last week after not been selected for the first Test, has been released from the squad ahead of the team reassembling in Christchurch on Tuesday. New Zealand are chasing their first win over Australia since 2011.

Black Caps opener Devon Conway will undergo surgery this week for the thumb injury he suffered during last month’s 3-0 Twenty20 series defeat to Australia. He is expected to be out for at least eight weeks, New Zealand Cricket said. The T20 World Cup, hosted by the United States and the West Indies, starts in June. — AFP