Gary Stead hopes the all-rounder to returns in time for England tour in May-June.
New Zealand all-rounder Colin De Grandhomme is all set to be out of action for 6-8 weeks as he will undergo surgery on his right ankle to correct chronic trouble. He has already been absent from international cricket since March last year due to an injury.
De Grandhomme has been struggling with an injury to the right ankle throughout the 2020-21 season and kept him out of international cricket for the entirety of a home summer against West Indies, Pakistan, and Australia. He was also forced to play as a specialist batsman for Northern Districts.
New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) Medical Manager Dayle Shackel has confirmed that De Grandhomme will need 6 weeks of rest post-surgery to resume running and another 2 weeks before he can bowl again.
The all-rounder wasn't considered for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh at home. He is expected to be fit for the New Zealand tour of England comprising two Test matches and the final of the ICC World Test Championship against India in May-June 2021.
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Shackel said of De Grandhomme: “It's been a challenging time for Colin and we hope this procedure will allow him to return with full function in his ankle. It's anticipated he will need six weeks of rest before he can return to running and another two weeks before he can resume bowling.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said: “We've all been gutted for Colin having to miss this international summer through injury. His contributions to the Blackcaps in the past few years have been outstanding across all three formats and he's been a huge part of our team.”
The coach further added on the all-rounder, “His skills with the ball, power with the bat, and catching in the field make him one of the premier all-rounders in the world and so we're naturally eager to see him get the injury right and become available for us again.”
He signed off, “It's too early to say what this might mean for our Test tour to England in late May and June, but we're hopeful following surgery and rehabilitation he will be a chance to make the squad.”
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)