Santner got his chance to represent New Zealand once Daniel Vettori decided to retire from the game. He is a like-for-like replacement of the veteran. Having played only 19 List A matches for Northern Districts, the selectors saw the potential in him and fast-tracked him to the national side. Santner was sent on the England tour to play a couple of practice games as some of the Kiwi players were absent due to their IPL commitments.
In only his first game on English soil, Santner impressed everyone, not with the ball, but with the bat. The youngster scored 27 and 94 in the two innings. He was part of the Test squad, but didn't get an opportunity. However, he made his way in the side during the ODI series. He played all 5 matches - picked up 7 wickets and scored 97 runs. Though New Zealand lost the series 3-2, Santner was one of the positives to have come out. He, along with Ish Sodhi, makes New Zealand a decent spin attack these days.
Since his debut, Santner has been an impressive prospect although the 2016-17 season has been a bit tough for the young man. Despite all the obvious talent, Santner has struggled to come to terms with what his stronger suit is. While some feel that he is a clever bowler who can bat a bit, it isn't wrong to call him a proper batsman considering this technique and temperament. For now, he is in the side as a bits-and-pieces cricketer who can do a bit of both. While this works in the shorter formats, it certainly won't merit his selection in red-ball cricket.
