New Zealand have been hit with multiple injury setbacks ahead of a busy home season. Pacer Will O’Rourke will be out for at least three months after scans confirmed a back stress fracture he picked up during the first Test against Zimbabwe.
New Zealand : The 24-year-old was forced to miss the second Test and has returned home to undergo rehabilitation, with coach Rob Walter praising his resilience and backing him to return stronger.
Finn Allen has also been sidelined for three months following surgery on his right foot, ruling him out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia. Glenn Phillips, meanwhile, continues to struggle with a groin injury suffered during Major League Cricket and will be reassessed in a month after missing the Zimbabwe tour.
Captain Mitchell Santner, who picked up a groin injury while playing in The Hundred, has opted for abdominal surgery. His recovery is expected to take around a month, leaving his participation in the Australia series uncertain, though the selectors plan to name him in the squad and decide closer to the matches.
Walter described Santner as “a world-class player and vital leader” in the T20 setup, while also acknowledging the disappointment of losing Allen and Phillips. However, he noted their absence creates openings for others to stake their claim in the squad.
New Zealand will host Australia, England, and the West Indies in a packed white-ball schedule starting October, before turning their focus to the Test season in December.