New Zealand are facing several injury setbacks, with Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen all ruled out of next month’s T20I series against Australia. Questions also remain over the availability of captain Mitchell Santner.
Will O'Rourke out for lengthy period with stress fracture
The most serious blow came with confirmation that fast bowler O’Rourke has sustained a stress fracture in his lower back, suffered during the opening Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month. Scans confirmed the injury, and the 24-year-old will now begin a strength and conditioning programme before being reassessed. He is expected to be sidelined for at least three months, ruling him out of New Zealand’s white-ball assignments against Australia, England and the West Indies.
Head coach Rob Walter expressed sympathy for the youngster: “We’re really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him a speedy recovery. He’s had such an impressive start to his career, and it’s disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he’s a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger.”
O’Rourke has played 11 Tests, 17 ODIs and seven T20Is thus far, picking up a total of 68 wickets across formats. He has had the largest impact in Tests, where he averages 24.28.
Phillips, who missed the Zimbabwe Test series with a groin injury, is still undergoing rehabilitation and will not feature against Australia, with his recovery to be reviewed in a month. Allen faces a longer absence, having undergone surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot, which will keep him out for at least three months.
Mitchell Santner’s availability also uncertain
Concerns also linger around white-ball skipper Santner, who experienced groin pain during The Hundred and returned home early. The left-arm spinner is scheduled for abdominal surgery, with an expected recovery period of about a month. Walter confirmed that the selectors intend to include him in the squad against Australia, but a final decision on his participation will be made closer to the start of the series. “Mitch is a world-class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view,” he said.
“With that in mind we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks' time, and from there we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series."
The three T20Is against Australia will be on October 1, 3 and 4, while the three-match T20I series against England will be from October 18-23.
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