New Zealand’s right-arm fast bowler Adam Milne will be sidelined for the remainder of the One Day International (ODI) series against England due to a hamstring injury. The setback comes after Milne experienced tightness in his hamstring during a training session in Cardiff, just before the commencement of the first ODI in the series.

A subsequent scan confirmed a low-grade injury, necessitating a period of rehabilitation for the pacer. While Milne undergoes his recovery process, he will remain in England to work on regaining his fitness.

ALSO READ

Milne’s absence is a significant loss for New Zealand, as he was also part of the team’s T20 International (T20I) squad for the series against England. However, in the two T20I games in which he featured, he struggled to leave a substantial impact.

To bolster their squad for the ongoing ODI series against England, New Zealand has called upon Ben Lister, a left-arm pacer who was already in England as part of Kent’s County Championship season.

New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead, stressed the importance of having reserves in a demanding cricketing schedule. “We have short turnarounds between these matches and want to try and look after the players as much as possible with the upcoming schedule,” Stead explained.

With Ben Lister already present in England, the team was able to draft him into the squad swiftly, avoiding the logistical challenges of bringing in a bowler from New Zealand mid-series. Stead expressed confidence in Lister’s abilities and highlighted the learning opportunity for the young player while being part of the senior squad during the tour.

“We have short turnarounds between these matches and want to try and look after the players as much as possible with the upcoming schedule,” Stead emphasized, recognizing the need for a well-prepared and adaptable squad in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

Get every cricket update! Follow us on