The batting all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa and the upcoming T20I series against Australia due to his foot injury.
Daryl Mitchell ruled out of South Africa Second Test
The 32-year-old batting all-rounder has been rested for the upcoming games after experiencing discomfort in his foot. Blackcaps star who established himself as one of the best middle-order batters, is expected to fully recover and regain fitness before the test series against Australia.
The Head coach Gary Stead spoke about the player ahead of the second test saying, “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.”
“Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation.”
Will O”Rourke will be replacing Daryl Mitchell in the group. But it remains unclear who will be placed in Playing 11 among O’Rourke and Will Young.
“[Will Young] is definitely one of the options,” Stead said. “Will’s there as back up [and] Glenn Phillips has shown he’s more than useful and it could be shaped differently. We are very happy with the squad we have.”
“Daryl’s obviously a huge loss, though, he’s been instrumental in a number of outstanding batting performances but it’s important for him and us that we get this right long term.”
Meanwhile, the head coach Gary said that batter Kane Williamson will be missing the three-match T20I series against Australia and also hinted that Trent Boult could earn a recall.
“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 – he 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,” he concluded.
New Zealand won the first match of the South Africa Test series by 281 runs. Rachin Ravindra was named as the Player of the match after he smashed his maiden double century during the first innings of the match.
Kane Williamson made his 30th Test century during the first Test match surpassing the previous records of Kohli and Bradman.
New Zealand and South Africa will be playing their second Test starting on February 13 at Seddon Park.
