Black Caps opener Jeet Raval no certainty for Boxing Day Test

Will New Zealand opener Jeet Raval get the sack on Boxing Day?

New Zealand opener Jeet Raval is mired in the worst form slump of his career. Picture: AAP

Will New Zealand opener Jeet Raval get the sack on Boxing Day?

Raval is mired in the worst form slump of his 23-Test career, and his double failure in Perth could prove to be the final straw ahead of the Melbourne Test.

The 31-year-old has scored just 66 runs at an average of 7.3 from his past nine Test innings. His last Test knock of substance was his 132 on home soil against Bangladesh in February.

In the day-night Test at Optus Stadium, Raval was dismissed for one in each innings. But he might be given one more chance given NZ’s lack of batting depth.

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Back-up keeper Tom Blundell is the only real option to enter as a specialist batsman, which would force either Henry Nicholls or BJ Watling to open in place of Raval.

NZ captain Kane Williamson was measured when asked about Raval’s poor form.

“I suppose Jeet is like every other batsman in the world, and that’s that they want more and more runs, and you always have good days and bad days,” Williamson said. “In terms of looking forward, just having finished this game it’s important we reflect on it and any selections will be based upon the surfaces and the squad that we have at the time.”

Star paceman Trent Boult (rib) is set to return for Boxing Day in a straight swap for Lockie Fer­guson (calf).

NZ posted scores of just 166 and 171 in Perth. Williamson knows they will have to do far better than that to be competitive in Melbourne, and he hopes each player can make improvements.

AAP