The flow of kiwi cricketers in and out of the Blackcaps set up continues, as the Test squad to face India was sent throughout Aotearoa via carrier kea. Kyle Jamieson continues his ascension and sticks with the Blackcaps Test group after a cheeky stint at the back-end of the series in Australia, joined by Daryl Mitchell and Ajaz Patel. Those three are where much of the funk resides, while Tom Blundell's 'I'm a domestic wicket-keeper/middle order batsman but I'll defs open in Tests if you want me to' fantasy continues and the bro Trent Boult is back.

Much of the attention from the mainstream is being tuned in to Mitchell Santner and that's somewhat understandable if you have been popping into Blackcaps cricket every so often. I enjoy watching Santner play cricket in any format and our standard narrative around Santner is how he seduces fans with the ease with which he does cricket things. I've also defended selecting Santner on numerous occasions while walking that selection tight-rope, based more around how Santner fits into this group and his wider skills on offer.

Judging Santner on his series in Australia though, that's a bit strange given that legendary spinners have consistently struggled when touring Australia. Santner is barely among the world's best Test spinners right now, so to be critical of his work in a place where most spinners not named Shane Warne have struggled, is slightly weird.

I view Patel as the better spinner. Once again though, the kiwi spin situation is such that highlighting one spinner over the other is purely based on opinion and personal bias. The kiwi spin situation has changed slightly, with Todd Astle retiring and Will Somerville injured, narrowing this down to Santner, Patel and Ish Sodhi. I'd also refrain from making any grand judgements about Santner's future because any one of the spinners could make a move for any Test series.

What has Patel been up to this summer?

Plunket Shield: 7w @ 25.85avg/2.34rpo.

Ford Trophy: 3w @ 63.66avg/5.16rpo.

Super Smash: 15w @ 17.20avg/7.40rpo.

One-dayers vs India A: 4w @ 22.25avg/7.41rpo.

Four-dayers vs India A: 2w @ 99.50avg/4.23rpo.

The absence of Santner isn't even the most interesting, compared to Matt Henry's exclusion. This is because the seam department has a lot more clarity to it compared to the spinners and right now, Henry's on a mission to claw his way back into the Blackcaps mix and will now focus on Plunket Shield cricket. Since the Test series, Henry has played just two Ford Trophy games and took 3w @ 40.33avg/6.05rpo as he watched Jamieson storm past him in the pecking order.

Henry isn't in a battle with just Jamieson though as Lockie Ferguson isn't back in the frame quite yet. Prior to being selected in the Test squads that played England and Australia (Henry only played one game in each series), Henry took 9w @ 39.55avg/3.09rpo in three games and as I absorb that small sample size alert, it does seem notable that Henry is averaging 40-ish in his domestic work this summer.

The spinner market is volatile for the Blackcaps and all it takes are solid performances with the Blackcaps and in domestic cricket to swing back in favour. For the seamers though, everything is more settled, with a top-tier and those sniffing around the 1st 11, which puts Henry in an interesting spot where he's on the decline while others are trending in the other direction.

Daryl Mitchell didn't take his opportunity with the Blackcaps T20I squad, however Mitchell isn't too far behind Jamieson in being one of the massive movers of the kiwi summer. This started with 73 on Test debut and then the other notable move was Mitchell being the skipper of various Aotearoa 'A'/Aotearoa 11 teams, quite clearly settling into the 'next up' role.

With no Santner, there could be a role for Mitchell to play as an all-rounder. Otherwise I don't expect Mitchell to get much game time and he will likely take on the role that guys like Henry and Blundell have enjoyed in doing whatever the team needs as a member of the squad. This is an odd mix of current Blackcaps themes being prevalent once again with fresh players re-invigorating the squad, along with a spash of excitement at seeing our favourite cast of cricketers back in the whites.

We have already undergone immense change with the Blackcaps this summer and in the Test arena, the Blackcaps have bid farewell to Henry, Astle, Santner and Jeet Raval from their Test group. In come Jamieson, Mitchell and Patel to spice things up as the summer of transition and transformation rolls on.

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Peace and love 27.