Smith ruled out of test series
Another injury concern for the Black Caps with pace-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe test series with an abdominal injury.
Smith, who was raised in Oamaru, sustained the injury while batting on day two of the first test in Bulawayo.
A subsequent MRI has confirmed he picked up an abdominal strain which will require approximately two to four weeks recovery.
Zak Foulkes, who recently played in the T20I Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been called into his first test squad to replace Smith.
Smith recorded three for 20 in Zimbabwe's first innings.
New Zealand won the test by nine wickets inside three days.
Meanwhile Auckland Aces Ben Lister has also been called in as additional pace cover for Will O'Rourke who experienced back stiffness on day three and is being monitored.
Captain Tom Latham also missed the opening test with a shoulder injury and it is unsure if he will be available for the second test which starts on Thursday.
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Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Smith ruled out of test series
Nathan Smith bowls for the Black Caps in Christchurch last year. Another injury concern for the Black Caps with pace-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe test series with an abdominal injury. Smith, who was raised in Oamaru, sustained the injury while batting on day two of the first test in Bulawayo. A subsequent MRI has confirmed he picked up an abdominal strain which will require approximately two to four weeks recovery. Zak Foulkes, who recently played in the T20I Tri-Series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, has been called into his first test squad to replace Smith. Smith recorded three for 20 in Zimbabwe's first innings. New Zealand won the test by nine wickets inside three days. Meanwhile Auckland Aces Ben Lister has also been called in as additional pace cover for Will O'Rourke who experienced back stiffness on day three and is being monitored. Captain Tom Latham also missed the opening test with a shoulder injury and it is unsure if he will be available for the second test which starts on Thursday.
Otago Daily Times
17 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Henry humble as Black Caps seal victory
Matt Henry played down his individual heroics after the Black Caps wrapped up a comfortable win over Zimbabwe in the first test on Saturday. New Zealand won the first of two tests inside three days, securing victory at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo by nine wickets after skittling out the hosts a second time. Stand-in skipper Mitchell Santner took four wickets as Zimbabwe were dismissed for 165 runs in their second innings after being 31 for two overnight, leaving New Zealand needing only eight runs in their second innings to win the test. They achieved the target in 14 balls but not before opener Devon Conway was bowled in the first over by Newman Nyamburi for four. Henry Nicholls hit the winning run in the third over after tea on the third day to see the tourists go 1-0 up in the two-test series. Henry claimed three wickets in the second innings to grab a match haul of nine wickets for a third time. He had to shoulder even more of the bowling load with Nathan Smith sidelined with an abdominal strain and Will O'Rourke restricted to 10 overs in Zimbabwe's second innings with a back niggle. New Zealand's bowling spearhead said the result was always more important than any individual effort. "I suppose, for me, it's about having an impact on the game," Henry said. "It's pretty special to play test cricket for New Zealand, and to be on the right side of test victories is also pretty special. "The way we went about it as a group was awesome, so we're pretty pleased." Zimbabwe started day three with hopes of wiping out a 158-run first innings deficit and setting a tough target for New Zealand to chase but they were always up against it, even if the tourists were two bowlers short. Smith suffered his abdominal strain on the second day and O'Rourke did not bowl after lunch on day three because of stiffness in his back. Zimbabwe added only three runs to their overnight score before Nick Welch was caught behind off O'Rourke and by lunch Zimbabwe were tottering on 114 for six, still 44 runs adrift. They had by then lost leading scorer Sean Williams, who tickled the ball down leg to be caught behind for 49, and captain Craig Ervine, who got a faint edge to Henry and was out for 22. Henry, who took six for 39 in the first innings, persisted as the lone paceman after lunch and dismissed Zimbabwe's last recognised batsman Sikandar Raza cheaply to ensure his nine-wicket match haul. Santner, captaining the Kiwis for the first time in the absence of the injured Tom Latham, mopped up the tail as he took the last three wickets for figures of four for 27 off 17.1 overs. Henry took three for 51 in the second innings and O'Rourke three for 28 off 10 overs before his injury. Zimbabwe won the toss on the first day and, after electing to bat, scored 149 with New Zealand making 307 for nine in reply in their first innings in which Smith retired hurt. The second test will also be played in Bulawayo, starting on Thursday. ZIMBABWE First innings 149 NEW ZEALAND First innings 307 for nine ZIMBABWE Second innings B Bennett c Blundell b O'Rourke 18 B Curran c O'Rourke b Henry 11 N Welch c Blundell b O'Rourke 4 V Masekesa c Ravindra b O'Rourke 2 S Williams c Blundell b Santner 49 C Ervine c Blundell b Henry 22 S Butt c Ravindra b Henry 5 T Tsiga c Conway b Santner 27 N Nyamhuri b Santner 1 B Muzarabani c sub b Santner 19 T Chivanga not out 0 Extras (6b, 1lb) 7 Total (67.1 overs) 165 Fall: 1/25, 2/29, 3/34, 4/53, 5/110, 6/110, 7/119, 8/126, 9/162. Bowling: M Henry 21-5-51-3, W O'Rourke 10-4-28-3, M Bracewell 15-2-42-0, M Santner 17.1-6-27-4, D Mitchell 4-1-10-0. NEW ZEALAND Second innings D Conway b Nyamhuri 4 W Young not out 0 H Nicholls not out 4 Extras 0 Total for 1 wkt, 2.2 overs 8 Fall: 1-4. Bowling: N Nyamhuri 1.2-0-8-1, S Williams 1-1-0-0. Result: Win to New Zealand by 9 wickets. — Allied Media/Reuters
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
NZ Herald Sports Update: August 4, 2025
Liam Lawson finishes 8th at the Hungarian Grand Prix and Black Caps pace bowler Nathan Smith is ruled out of the final Cricket test against Zimbabwe. Video / Herald NOW
