New Zealand expect Devon Conway to be available for the second Test of their series in England at The Oval next week, despite him undertaking a 23,000-mile round trip to Wellington to be at the birth of his second child between Tests.
Conway made 1 and 41 in New Zealand's 115-run defeat in a low-scoring first Test at Lord's and has since taken the long journey home for the birth of his second child with his wife Kim.
New Zealand said in a statement on Wednesday: "BLACKCAPS batter Devon Conway has briefly returned home to New Zealand to welcome the birth of his second child. Conway will spend some time at home with family before flying back to London ahead of the second Test against England at The Oval, starting Wednesday 17 June."
New Zealand's players have been given time off in the UK after their defeat in the first Test. The squad are due to train at The Oval on Friday, before another day off on Saturday, and then three further training days before the second Test starts on Wednesday.
Tom Latham, their captain, said after the Lord's Test that he was hopeful to have "a full bowling attack to pick from" at The Oval after Matt Henry suffered back spasms on the opening day, limiting his involvement in the match.
"I think it's a day-by-day case with Henners," Latham said. "Fingers crossed, he keeps progressing the way he has from day one to where he is now [on day four]. We've got a little bit of extra time now to hopefully get him right and then, fingers crossed, we'll have a full bowling attack to pick from again."
The build-up to the second Test has been dominated by the off-field chaos that has engulfed the England team this week, with Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson not considered for selection at The Oval after their involvement in a late-night incident at a London nightclub and Joe Root stepping up as interim captain.