New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Pakistan with a foot injury. New Zealand will face off against Pakistan in ICC World Test Championship fixtures slated to start from December 26 in Mount Maunganui following the conclusion of the T20I series. De Grandhomme had also missed the not too long ago concluded Test series against the West Indies. New Zealand coach Gary Stead confirmed his absence and stated the all-rounder had a bone anxiety reaction in his ideal foot and would not be prepared for either the Boxing Day Test or the second Test in Christchurch.
“We haven’t been able to get him up to running stage and ultimately bowling as well. He’s looking like, hopefully, a mid-January return to play in the Super Smash,” Stead stated in a video posted on the New Zealand cricket team’s official Twitter deal with.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also probably to miss the Pakistan series as coach and health-related employees await final results of scans. After his heroics in the T20I series against the West Indies, Ferguson had reported back discomfort and scans had revealed a bone anxiety injury of his lumbar spine.
“He’s had some scans with his back and we intend on getting those results today, meeting with him tomorrow and we’ll give an update after that once we’ve had the chance to speak to Lockie,” stated Stead.
Meanwhile, the wait for skipper Kane Williamson, who had missed the second Test against West Indies, to return to the set-up continues.
“There’s no update on baby news so we’ll let them carry on as is, but the plan still is at this stage that he will join the team for T20s two and three,” Stead stated.
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The initial T20I in between New Zealand and Pakistan will be played in Auckland on Friday.