New Zealand suffered a major setback ahead of the three-match Test series against India with senior speedster Tim Southee getting ruled out. The 27-year-old felt pain in his left ankle while bowling during Blackcaps’ training session in New Delhi.
A scan showed grade two ligament strain following which he will return home for rest and rehab. The New Zealand management is hopeful of his return for the ODI series that starts on October 16.
“Tim has been working hard in preparation for this tour, so he's understandably very disappointed to be ruled out of all three Tests," New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said on Friday (September 16).
“The focus now is for Tim to give his ankle 7-10 days’ rest, before slowly building his bowling loads back up ahead of the ODI series. We've got a replacement who is ready to go in Matt Henry and he'll join the team before the start of the first Test.”
The visitors have called up Matt Henry as Southee’s replacement. Henry, who has played four Test matches, last featured in a Test match against Australia in Christchurch. He was also part of New Zealand’s Test squad to Zimbabwe and South Africa.
