SL v NZ | I didn't even know I was on the radar for New Zealand, says Will Somerville
William Somerville said on Tuesday that he is very grateful for having played a part in the away series win against Pakistan. The 35-year-old right-arm off-break bowler is now in the final stages of preparing for the Test series away against Sri Lanka, his first match since 2018.
The series was one-all between Pakistan and New Zealand. Two gutsy sides battling it out in the UAE. The visitors looking for their first away series win against Pakistan in nearly 50 years. With history just around the corner, the Kiwis fielded a 35-year-old debutant for the decider.
Boy, did that trick work. Somerville picked up seven wickets in the match – six of them proper top or middle-order batsman – and won the game and the series for his country.
Somerville spoke to reporters ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, sharing the circumstances around his debut.
"I didn't even know I was on the radar, for New Zealand. I assumed it would take one or two seasons. It was a lot faster than I was expecting. But Todd Astle got injured, and I got the call as a replacement for him. "I wasn't expecting to play the home Tests. Ajaz has taken the most wickets in home conditions in New Zealand for the last three domestic seasons. But I was very, very grateful to be a part of that win against Pakistan away, for the first time since 1969," Somerville was quoted saying by ESPNCricinfo.
However, since then he hasn’t featured in another Test series. The Wellington-born man knows full well that there are at least three spinners – Mitchell Santner, Todd Astle and Ajaz Patel – ahead of him in the pecking order.
So, instead or ruing the opportunities that never came, he has dedicated his attention towards a possible opportunity away against the Lankans. Being the only option in the side that can take the ball away from the left-hander, Somerville is likely to be picked again in the playing XI for the two-match series.
"I've had my eye on this tour. I spoke to Gary Stead at the end of the New Zealand domestic summer and said, 'I want to be able to bowl on grass in New Zealand in preparation for touring Sri Lanka.' So I went and joined the winter squad in Lincoln, where they have a marquee. It's the middle of winter and five degrees, but you're indoors, bowling on grass. I've got myself ready for this tour, and it's nice to be here and be selected," Somerville added.