Due to a persistent foot injury, Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the impending T20Is against Australia at home and the second Test against South Africa.
Due to a persistent foot injury, Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the impending T20Is against Australia at home and the second Test against South Africa.
“Daryl is a hugely important member of the squad in all three formats and ensuring he is in the best shape is vital with the period of matches to come,” said head coach Gary Stead. “Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation.”
As Mitchell has already been included in the squad for the second Test, Will O’Rourke will take his place in the group. Nevertheless, whether he is given his début or whether New Zealand substitutes Mitchell for Will Young in the starting XI is unknown.
In the interim, Stead confirmed that regular captain Kane Williamson will miss the three-match Twenty20 International series against Australia, whereas Trent Boult, a pacer, may be called up.
“Kane’s wife is pregnant at the moment, so I think through the T20s it’s unlikely he will be around as well,” he said. “Trent’s available if we want to select him – him and I are still having conversations, but from a selection point of view, we’re going through that at the moment and hopeful in the next couple of days we can nail down what that looks like.”
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