Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson will not take part in the upcoming two-match Test series against England due to a suspected stress fracture in his back while fast bowler Matt Henry will miss the first Test as he awaits the birth of his first child, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday (February 14).
The uncapped duo of Jacob Duffy (Otago Volts) and Scott Kuggeleijn (Northern Districts) have been called into the squad ahead of the opening day-night Test against England, slated to be played in Mount Maunganui on Thursday (February 16).
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed Jamieson’s suspected back stress-fracture was picked up in an MRI scan and is a reoccurrence of the injury that ruled him out of the England Test tour last June.
“It’s really gutting for Kyle to have this happen after he’d put so much hard work in to getting himself back on the park.
“Since the injury in June we’ve certainly taken a cautious approach to managing his return with regular monitoring by our medical staff which has included scans.
“While Kyle’s not feeling any pain, the evidence is pretty clear he has a stress-fracture and so he’ll return to Christchurch today and have a CT scan on Friday before we decide on the next steps,” Stead said in a statement issued by NZC.
Taking to Instagram, Kyle Jamieson also expressed his dejection after he sustained the recurring injury.
“Not the challenge I thought was in front of me this week. For whatever reason this is part of the journey and what we sign up for at times in this game. Always thankful for what this game has given and continues to give me, good and bad,” the towering paceman wrote.
With Henry expected to be available for the second Test in Wellington starting February 24, a decision on the make-up of the squad will be made post the first Test.
(With NZC Inputs)
