ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Injured Adam Milne ruled out of the tournament

New Zealand have now won nine One-Day Internationals (ODI) in a row and are just two wins away from the trophy they have desired for long, the ICC Cricket World Cup. Their campaign received a huge blow when young Adam Milne got ruled out of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 due to heel injury. New Zealand have reached the semi-finals and will play South Africa on Tuesday. With their fastest bowler Milne getting injured untimely, speedster Matt Henry has been called in the New Zealand squad, just ahead of their semi-final contest.

Team management confirmed that he felt discomfort after the quarterfinal triumph against the West Indies and underwent an MRI scan on Sunday. New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson said that the problem was a bit grave as the results showed noteworthy swelling around the region and he will not be fit to play the remainder of the tournament.

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Henry, who teamed up with the squad on Sunday and also trained at Auckland, was ill-fated to make it to the original squad after impressing in New Zealand’s win over Pakistan in the UAE in December. The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday afternoon approved Milne as the replacement and this has now provided a stiff competition for Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said the team “did not have to roll out the same game plan” they have used during the entire tournament and added saying that Henry comes as a likewise replacement for Milne.

“We probably need to have another look at the wicket tomorrow, look at the overhead conditions, as well, and try and factor all those things in,” McCullum said in a report from Espncricinfo.

“But I think you’ve seen the way we’ve operated with Adam in that third seamer role has worked quite well for us coming in after our two opening bowlers swinging the ball; the role that he’s been able to play has been very good,” he added.

Despite an untimely scenario emerging that made New Zealand call for a change, McCullum stood by his decision to make limited reinforcements as possible during the group stage even once the team had easily qualified.

“I think seven from seven is a testament to the strategy that we’ve rolled out. We’re very confident in every member of the squad that we have here, and if Matt gets brought into the squad officially, then we’re obviously confident in him, as well. We talked before the tournament, as well, about the guys that sat on the periphery of the squad and how they were unlucky to obviously miss out initially,” the skipper said.

“Matt is one of those guys who now if he does get brought in, then he has the opportunity to come out there and perform, and we’ll back him immensely, just as the guys who have been sitting on the sidelines,” he further added.

Milne featured in six matches and although he only took five wickets, his extra pace adds a different zest with the rest of the pace attack. He also contributed in the field largely by picking spectacular catches against England and Afghanistan which comes as an evidence of his agility.

The Blackcaps skipper confirmed Milne would stay with the squad during the semi-final saying, “Adam has been outstanding for us in that third seamer role throughout the tournament. It’s really disappointing for Adam but he’ll remain part of the squad, which is good, because he’s a good team man, as well, good fellow to have around.”

The lanky pacer is considered to be injury prone as this is not the first time his body has worked against him. At the start of the New Zealand season, he was ruled out of the series against South Africa with an elbow injury which followed an abdominal muscle strain against India last year. Back in 2013, Milne also missed a one-day series in South Africa due to an Achilles problem.