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Tom Blundell ruled out of 2nd Test against West Indies with hamstring injury

Rajgeeta Yadav

Tom Blundell ruled out of 2nd Test [Source: AFP]Tom Blundell ruled out of 2nd Test [Source: AFP]

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tom Blundell has been forced out of the ongoing Test against the West Indies in Christchurch, as well as the second Test in Wellington next week, after scans showed he has torn his right hamstring.

Blundell hurt himself while batting on the first day of the Christchurch Test. He was clearly uncomfortable as he ran between the wickets, and the injury was serious enough that he could not take the field on Day 2. 

With Blundell sidelined, stand-in captain Tom Latham had to take over the wicketkeeping duties.

NZ cricket confirms Tom Blundell's injury

Before the start of play on Day 3, New Zealand Cricket confirmed the news in a statement, explaining that Blundell would not recover in time for the next match at the Basin Reserve, which begins on December 10. The board also announced that Mitchell Hay has been added to the squad and will join the team in Wellington on December 7.

Blundell’s injury is just one of several setbacks New Zealand have faced in this Test. Fast bowler Matt Henry and seam-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith have also been ruled out of action during the Christchurch match. Smith was unable to bowl or field on Day 4 because of soreness, while Henry left the field after bowling his 11th over and later went for scans at a nearby hospital.

With so many players unavailable, New Zealand were forced to rely on part-time spinners Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra to get through the overs. The team was already missing middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell, who is still recovering from a groin injury and could not play in the first Test.

Notably, Mitchell Hay, who is currently playing for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield, will finish the first two days of that match before joining the national side. 

Hay has already played seven ODIs and 12 T20Is for New Zealand in the past year, and he might be in line for a Test debut if Daryl Mitchell is not fit in time. If Mitchell returns, New Zealand could reshuffle their batting order by promoting Will Young and adjusting Latham’s position to cover Blundell’s absence.