No replacement has been named for the New Zealand Test squad after New Zealand Cricket announced Jesse Ryder's injury –which rules him out of the rest of the Zimbabwe tour. New Zealand has already won the Econet twenty20 and won the Castle ODI challenge 2-1 in Harare, the team drew against Zimbabwe ‘A’ in a two-day warm up match at the BAC in Bulawayo. They are due to play Zimbabwe in a one-off Test match at Queens Sports Club starting on the 1st of November; unfortunately the touring sides will have to make to with the already existing players in camp.
Ryder suffered an injury on his right calf while bowling in the warm-up match against Zimbabwe ‘A’ in Bulawayo. He delivered three balls before feeling discomfort with an ultra-scan earlier on Sunday confirming a calf strain. The is the second major blow hitting the tourists, who last played an international fixture at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 five months prior to the Zimbabwe tour. Sensational quick bowler Tim Southee had to miss the entire tour of Zimbabwe, after failing to recover from a knee cartilage injury –fortunately for the Black Caps –Southee was replaced by fellow Northern Districts swing bowler Graeme Aldridge who had already arrived in Zimbabwe as part of the limited-overs team.
The team manager, Mike Sandle, expressed that the injury was treated with the utmost solemnity and they could not risk serious damage on Ryder’s calf and that he will , hopefully, be fit for their scheduled series against Australia.
“Initially we were hopeful the injury wasn’t too serious but unfortunately the scan showed damage to Jesse’s calf and he will miss the Test match. He will return to New Zealand to undergo further assessment and a period of rehabilitation”
“Although he isn’t available for our next match the medical team are confident he will be fit for and available for selection for December’s Test series in Australia,” said Sandle in Bulawayo
The BLACKCAPS one-off Test match against Zimbabwe starts Tuesday 1 November, 1000hrs Zimbabwean time.
Tests squad:
Ross Taylor (c) ;Graeme Aldridge; Doug Bracewell; Dean Brownlie; Martin Guptill; Chris Martin; Brendon McCullum; Andy McKay; Jeetan Patel; Daniel Vettori; Kane Williamson; BJ Watling and Reece Young
