The rise of Lockie Ferguson may be the most exciting little kiwi cricket tale of the moment and thus, there has been a sharp spotlight placed on Ferguson and his possible role in the Blackcaps Test team. Throughout the lead up to this first Test between Aotearoa and England, different ideas were thrown out, many by folks who would like to think that they are 'in the know' about how Ferguson fits into the Test team and different little rotation strategies.

Meanwhile, there's a bloke who has been a staple of the Test squad in recent years in Matt Henry and he's patiently waiting for his opportunity. The discussion around Ferguson zoned in on whether he would play or not and whether it would be Tim Southee or Neil Wagner who makes way to give Ferguson the debut, all while Henry went through the same preparation process he's gone through over the past 18-24 months; preparing for 12th-man duties.

The way in which many folks - some copying what other people say and some leaning on their own expertise - brushed over Henry to discuss Ferguson's role, was a bit weird. I'm not going to try convince youz that Henry should be playing Test cricket, or even compare who is better right now between Henry and Ferguson. This is more about trying to make sense of a situation that confused my wee noggin'.

Henry has been in Blackcaps Test squads consistently for the past few years and has sat behind the Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner trio for much of that time. One little note I've learned while writing about the Blackcaps Test team is that there's a pecking order, there is a system in place to bring players in and minimize the gap between domestic cricket and Test cricket - which isn't as evident in white ball formats.

Will Young is still waiting for an opportunity and even though he's out injured right now, he is still likely to be viewed as the next-up batsman. Tom Blundell is obviously viewed as the next wicket-keeper behind BJ Watling, so Blundell is in Test squads, acquainting himself with what needs to be done in the Test arena. I appreciate that it's not as tidy as Young being the next batsman, Blundell the next wicket-keeper and Henry the next seamer as not everything fits so nicely in reality. That's simply what I have observed and it's kinda obvious based on squad selections.

Pay attention to the past week though and you'd be excused for thinking that Henry no longer exists, that Henry stumbled across his favourite psychedelic and went walkabouts. It wasn't Henry that was apparently putting pressure on Southee, despite not only being next in line, but also the most similar in terms of swing and seam. This opens a can of worms in my head because other than rotation and managing workload, Southee is going to be selected and despite the constant reminders in commentary, Southee was never under pressure.

I've loved watching Ferguson tear up Plunket Shield cricket and I could make a decent case that Ferguson commanded Test selection as much as Henry at various stages in the past four years. Ferguson has always had a great Plunket Shield record, genuinely fantastic and was overlooked, the Blackcaps Test team instead put Henry in that next up role. That's fine and that's why Henry stayed with the Blackcaps to do his job for the 1st 11, while Ferguson went back to play Ford Trophy.

Regardless of how excited you are, fizzing and frothing at Ferguson's speed and his battle with Jofra Archer and whatever, Henry is still with the team. Perhaps Ferguson has gone down to Ford Trophy to bowl overs in preparation for Test cricket, but based on Henry's history in the squad and then appearing to be ahead of Ferguson in the pecking order via staying with the team; it's be bloody rough on Henry to see Ferguson leap-frog him.

Of course, Ferguson took his standard 5w @ 4.22rpo in Auckland's win over Central Districts and that's a case of Ferguson demanding selection. Henry didn't get that opportunity though, because, well, he's kinda still with the team and maybe Henry would have done the same if put in that position. Instead, Henry is doing his duty and also, Henry will be hitting the nets hard one would imagine, under the guidance of Blackcaps coaching staff.

If it were me, I'd rather be with the team. That obviously makes you feel like you're involved, that you're part of the whanau and in opting to keep Henry around, I view it as a nod of faith in Henry from the decision-makers. I can see from the outside the patience and graft Henry has shown in not playing, but being 12th-man, so imagine what the Blackcaps decision-makers think of Henry's efforts. They would know better than any of us, what Henry has done in helping his team and preparing himself for an opportunity.

We haven't had such a flow of Test cricket in a long time and instead of Test series at either end of the summer, we're getting them hard and fast. This means we are guaranteed rotation in the bowling stocks and so I have no doubt that we will see Henry and Ferguson play Test cricket this summer. To completely ignore Henry is weird, not because he is 'better' than Ferguson, but because it goes against the whole culture and vibe of the Blackcaps Test team.

Had there been different trends in how the Blackcaps operate, this wouldn't be so weird. This Blackcaps Test team though, are extremely team-first and you do whatever you can for the greater good of the team. If you're not performing so well, you'll get further opportunities and good faith is shown to the blokes in team in terms of selection. I wouldn't go as far as saying there are morals and codes at play, it's more of a wholesome kiwi team environment, of which Henry has been a consistent member.

Everyone else can ignore Henry, because they don't have a sniff of that Blackcaps Test team vibe. For the Blackcaps to ignore Henry, would be taking a major detour from that vibe and culture that has been established in recent years. Hence, Henry's once again running drinks and chatting with the bowlers, with the bowling coach on the boundary, generally doing his job for the team.

The Niche Cache is on Patreon! Where you can support the Niche Cache directly and join the whanau.

Peace and love 27.