All-rounder Daryl Mitchell is set to make his cricket debut for New Zealand in the second Test against England on Friday. He will replace the injured Colin de Grandhomme in Hamilton.

The all-rounder is the son of John Mitchell, the former All Blacks coach who is now an assistant under Eddie Jones with England, who beat New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup semis.

With a Test cap to his name, Mitchell will go a step further than his father, who played six mid-week tour matches but no Tests for the All Blacks before turning to coach and taking New Zealand to third at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.



Daryl Mitchell has admitted he had mixed feelings when England beat New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals in Japan. They lost to South Africa in the final.

“It’s a strange watch, to be fair. Your whole life you grow up supporting the All Blacks, but at the same time you want your old man to do well,” the 28-year-old Daryl told Stuff.co.nz after England won 19-7.

Mitchell has played nine Twenty20 internationals for New Zealand. He averages 35.6 with the bat and 33.5 with the ball in first-class cricket at the domestic level.



After winning the first Test by an innings and 65 runs, the Black Caps would be eyeing for a series sweep in Hamilton. However, the Kiwis are yet to finalize whether Matt Henry or Lockie Ferguson will come in for injured bowling spearhead Trent Boult.