A controversial selection decision that has divided New Zealand cricket

New Zealand coach Gary Stead has defended the divisive selection of Scott Kuggeleijn and the decision not to call up Trent Boult as his side were forced to withdraw late on the eve of the first Test against England.

Kyle Jamieson withdrew from the series on Tuesday after re-injuring his back injury following England’s warm-up game last week. Matt Henry has pulled out of the first Test following the delayed birth of his first child. Both would have been key bowlers, replaced by the uncapped Kuggeleijn and Jacob Duffy.

Kuggeleijn was arrested on rape charges in 2015, later charged twice, but a jury failed to reach a verdict in the first strike, and he was found not guilty in a 2017 retrial.

The complainant told the court he did not say “dozens of times” on the night the incident happened. Giving evidence, Kuggerleijn said: “I tried (to have sex) twice, as she might have said ‘no, no’ a few times, but it wasn’t dozens of times. She also said she was ‘dressed provocatively’ and ‘looking for a man’s attention’ .He was booed while playing T20 cricket in New Zealand shortly after the incident and criticized on social media when the decision was announced yesterday.

He has now been called up to the Test squad and could make his debut this week after the selectors decided not to pick Boult.

“I’m given players to pick from and we’ve gone with a durable figure from a bowling point of view and he’s a guy when you lose two key bowlers you look around and ask who are the guys who can do the job for us internationally and he’s that , who can,” Stead said of Kuggeleijn.

Boult rejected a New Zealand central contract last year to make himself fully available for franchise leagues, but has not retired from international cricket. He lives in Mount Maunganui and just returned from the UAE T20 league. He was New Zealand’s best bowler against England last summer and without him, along with the absence of Jamieson and Henry, the attack looks very thin against England’s batsmen.

“We’ve spoken to Trent Boult recently and after his contract came down it was decided that we would prioritize local signings and we’ve done that on this occasion,” Stead said.