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New Zealand batsman Rachin Ravindra believes bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner is “criminally underrated” in short-format cricket.
Santner, 30, has recorded 88 international wickets in the 50-over game and 89 in T20Is since debuting in 2015.
While the left-arm orthodox spinner has struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the national side across all three formats, Ravindra believes it’s Santner’s pace control that makes him so difficult for opposition batsmen to play.
“Sants is an incredible bowler,” Ravindra told SENZ The Run Home.
“I think he’s almost criminally underrated which is crazy to think because he’s an incredible bowler and he’s someone I study a lot in white-ball cricket.
“He gets a lot on the ball which makes it very difficult, a lot of dip and a lot of bounce from his height, but I think the main thing is his pace control.
“He can go in between his slow pace and his quick pace without much cue or tell from the batsmen at all so everything’s happening I guess at (his) release point.”
Ravindra has likened Santner’s ability to the legendary Daniel Vettori, who is New Zealand’s most successful wicket-taker in the 50-over format with 305 wickets across his decorated career.
“That’s something Vettori was incredible at as well. He was able to just mix up those slight little variations on the exact same length which is … that’s a serious skill and he’s (Santner) been doing it for a number of years,” Ravindra added.
“Any time he bowls it’s just a real wonder to watch. I don’t actually remember the last time he got hit at all.”
In the Blackcaps’ first One Day International against Pakistan, Santner was New Zealand’s most economical bowler and was topped only by fellow spinner Michael Bracewell in the second clash after taking figures of 1-34 off his 10 overs.
Santner also added a valuable 37 runs to New Zealand’s 261-run total on Wednesday night as the tourists raced to a 79-run victory.
With the series locked at 1-1, New Zealand will have one final chance to clinch the ODI series with the decider in Karachi on Friday afternoon (NZST), where Santner will look to play a key role with both bat and ball.