Mitchell Santner hasn't just missed out on the job, it turns out the position may not even be available anymore.

If the Black Caps allrounder wasn't already concerned for his test cricket future after being left out of the squad to play India, then five words - that were repeated twice - from Black Caps coach Gary Stead on Monday will surely give him plenty to ponder.

Stead's admission that the Black Caps brain trust was looking at "a slight change in role" will surely give the left-arm tweaker quite the headache.

GETTY IMAGES Kyle Jamieson could soon be celebrating a Black Caps test debut.

Ajaz Patel, who played the last of his seven tests in August last year against Sri Lanka at Colombo, has been named as the lone spinner in the Black Caps 13-man squad for the two-match test series that begins at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

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For many Black Caps fans, Santner has often been considered a batting back up if the top-order fails who can also hold up an end economically with his accuracy and variation to allow his team to attack from the other end.

PHOTOSPORT Todd Astle's shock retirement came as a major surprise to Gary Stead.

But it goes without saying that taking 20 wickets is key to winning test matches and it seems Santner's strike rate of one wicket every 16 overs is no longer tolerable.

A more attacking option is needed.

"I guess a slight change in role that we're looking in terms of that position being one that we're trying to really take wickets and focus hard on that," Stead said on Monday.

In 22 tests, Santner has taken just 39 wickets at an average of 44.71.

GETTY IMAGES Matt Henry has work to do after falling down the fast bowlers' pecking order.

In his last four tests, Santner has taken just five wickets and that included a career-best 3-53 in the second innings of the first test win over England at Tauranga's Bay Oval.

By contrast, Patel has taken 22 test wickets from just seven matches at an average of 32.18 with best figures of 5-59 in an innings and 7-123 in a match.

To be fair to Santner, who has never taken more than three wickets in a test innings or more than five wickets in a match, a good portion of his test career has been played on New Zealand pitches that are hardly a spinner's paradise.

But it now seems clear Santner will have to significantly reinvent himself to move back into test consideration by taking a swag of wickets in domestic cricket.

"With us looking at a slight change in role, again it's a tough call we need to make," Stead said.

Patel will get the first crack at making the position his but the injured Will Somerville also remains in the mix and despite Todd Astle's shock retirement, there is still a leg-spin option as Ish Sodhi slowly returns to form and favour.

"Ajaz has done really well for us in overseas conditions but I also look back to his domestic form and the way that he performs here in New Zealand is very, very good. He's been the top wicket-taker [Plunket Shield] for the last three of four years domestically," Stead said.

There are always tough decisions and this was one of them, he explained.

"I guess in someways the decision this time has been made easier with Will Somerville and Todd Astle's unavailability."

The other major loser from Stead's squad to attack India in Wellington and at Hagley Oval is Matt Henry.

The 28-year-old has long been the nearly man of the bowling attack behind Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner.

But now the man who has taken 30 test wickets and been Mr Dependable when called upon has been overtaken by the imposing Kyle Jamieson.

The two-metre tall quick was called into the Black Caps touring party to Australia without being utilised but has since made highly impressive T20 and ODI debuts for New Zealand.

Stead conceded it was a tough call on Henry but Jamieson's point of difference was too hard to ignore.

"His height, his bounce that he's shown and I guess the early success he's had against India is enough that we think he's worthwhile being in our squad," Stead said.

Henry could bounce back into the squad at any time but he, in all likelihood, also finds himself behind Lockie Ferguson when the speedster is back to a full bill of health.

Ferguson, who made his test debut in Perth late last year where he suffered a calf injury on the opening day, was apart of the Auckland Aces team who won the Ford Trophy final on Sunday but Stead said he was never in test contention due to his lack of bowling loads.

The Black Caps coach would not be drawn on the likely makeup of his matchday 11 before arriving in Wellington on Tuesday but it's clear he wants to keep his options open on a pitch that is not known for offering much assistance to the spinners.

"The squad we've selected is the one that we think gives us the most cover, with spin, extra pace and batting cover there as well so they're all the things that I'll guess we'll consider when we do get up there," Stead said.