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Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme ruled out of second Test with injury

by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme will miss the second Test against England with injuries. Daryl Mitchell has been awarded his maiden Test call-up as a replacement.

Boult had experienced pain in his right rib on the final day of the first Test at Mount Maunganui, which resulted in him leaving the field and playing no further part as New Zealand secured victory by an innings and 65 runs. He has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the region, while de Grandhomme has suffered a tear to an abdominal muscle.

“An MRI scan yesterday confirmed Boult had strained one of the muscles overlying his ribs on his right-hand side, but cleared him of any bone stress,” NZC stated on Wednesday, November 27. “Colin de Grandhomme has a tear to his left lower abdominal muscle, sustained during the second fielding innings in the first Test win over England at Bay Oval.”

The team management is hoping that the duo will recover in time for New Zealand’s tour of Australia, where they play three Tests, starting on December 12. “Both players will remain at home to rest and begin rehabilitation ahead of the BLACKCAPS departure for Australia on December 7,” the statement said.

Mitchell, who has played nine Twenty20 Internationals for New Zealand, will link up with the Test squad for the first time. He has been picked on the back of the unbeaten 170 he scored against Canterbury in a Plunket Shield match. He also picked up two wickets in the game. A batting all-rounder, New Zealand might be tempted to bring him into the XI as a like-for-like replacement for de Grandhomme.

One of Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, already part of the squad, will fill in for Boult in Hamilton. Ferguson is yet to play a Test, but has been in great form in domestic cricket, and brings with him the advantage of express pace. Matt Henry, however, is the more experienced of the two and has already featured in 10 Tests.

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