ENG vs NZ | Colin de Grandhomme ruled out following injury in first Test

New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has been ruled out of the remainder of the Test series between England and New Zealand with a heel injury.

The reigning World Test champions slumped to a five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Lord's. However, more than the defeat, they were hurt by the absence of Grandhomme in the fourth innings of the first Test as the all-rounder suffered an injury while bowling during the third day of the first Test in Lord's and was unable to take the field on the fourth day and the rest of the Test match.

De Grandhomme will be replaced by all-rounder Michael Bracewell, who was already with the team for the first Test as cover for Henry Nicholls.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead confirmed the news of Colin de Grandhomme getting ruled out of the tour and admitted that the team would miss him in the next two Test matches. However, he was also confident that Bracewell would deliver whenever needed for the team, stating that he was ready for international cricket.

"It's a real shame for Colin [de Grandhomme] to suffer this injury so early in the series. He's a massive part of our Test side, and we'll certainly miss him," Gary Stead said in an official statement released by New Zealand Cricket (NZC),"

"It's great to be able to call on someone like Michael, who's been with the squad for the past month and is match ready," Stead added.

The good news for the Blackcaps is that Henry Nicholls has recovered from a calf injury and is likely to return to his usual spot at five, pushing down the first-Test century-maker Daryl Mitchell and wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to sixth and seventh, respectively. Stead is hopeful of getting the reliable Kiwi middle-order batter fit and ready for the second Test.

"Henry [Nicholls] is going really well. So we're hopeful he'll be available for selection for the second Test. He's certainly, in the past week or so, advanced nicely. So we're hopeful he'll be available for selection," said Stead on Nicholls.

Bracewell, the nephew of former New Zealand Test players Brendan and John Bracewell, played three one-day internationals against the Netherlands earlier this year but has yet to make his Test debut. 

Though he has slim chances of earning his debut, with Nicholls most likely to be included in the playing XI in de Grandhomme's place. The second Test of the three-match series will begin at Trent Bridge on Friday (June 10).