Surely?
Right?
The Black Caps have called in two uncapped seamers for the second test against Zimbabwe beginning in Bulawayo tonight.
Auckland left-armer Ben Lister and Canterbury all-rounder Zak Foulkes have been called into the side to replace the injured Will O’Rourke (stiff back) and Nathan Smith (abdominal injury).
You would think Duffy and Northern Districts quick Matt Fisher — who are both uncapped at test level as well — would have dibs given they have been with the squad longer.
But has Michael Bracewell’s absence complicated the selection?
The all-rounder has left the squad and returned to England to fill his commitments with the Southern Brave in The Hundred.
Foulkes shapes as the most like-for-like replacement for Bracewell.
But he is a right-arm medium pacer, and his inclusion would leave the Black Caps with another key decision to make about whether to go into the game with a second specialist spinner.
Tweaker Ajaz Patel is waiting in the wings for that gig. If he gets the nod, it would come down to a straight shootout among Duffy, Fisher and Lister as to who joins Matt Henry in the seam attack.
There is a lot of justified hype around Fisher and the extra pace he has. In many ways, he is more of a like-for-like replacement for O’Rourke.
But Duffy has earned his opportunity. He has been on two tours of England and a tour of India and has yet to play a test.
The 31-year-old Southlander has fashioned an impressive T20 international record. In 27 games, he has grabbed 38 wickets at an average of 16.34 and an economy rate of seven.
His ODI record is not too shabby either. He has 26 wickets at 24.88 in 14 games.
It is time he got a red ball in his hand for New Zealand. If he does get the nod, he will be the first Southlander to play test cricket in 47 years.
Robert "Jumbo" Anderson was the last Southlander to play test cricket for New Zealand. He played the last of his nine tests in 1978.
Black Caps bowling coach Jacob Oram said they were being cautious with O'Rourke, who had been sent home for further medical tests.
"We are hopeful it's nothing too serious," Oram said.
"He's so important to our side for the next six to eight months [and also the] next year with all the test cricket we have got.
"We need to make sure we look after that big guy."
Oram was not giving too much away on who might get the call-up for the second test.
"It's nice to see the fresh faces and, from my perspective as the bowling coach, I know these guys have got the skills.
"I see it in the nets, I see their development and improvement and I can't wait to see whoever it is that gets that first cap, get out there and do their thing."
Opener Tom Latham missed the first test with a shoulder injury. It is unclear whether he has won the battle to be fit or not.
But if he does play, Henry Nicholls shapes as the most likely top-order batter to drop out of the XI.
The Black Caps won the first test by nine wickets.
Henry starred with nine wickets in the match. But if there is an area that needs improvement, it is the batting, Oram said.
"I'm sure if you spoke to the top order, they'd want to convert some of those starts into hundreds."
He felt the Black Caps should have pushed on to 400-ish, but they were bowled out for 307 instead. That left the door ajar for Zimbabwe.
