George Worker ruled out of India A fixture after blow to helmet

Opener George Worker has been ruled out of a four-day first-class match against India A starting from Friday, New Zealand A will square off against India A in three four-day matches starting at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui

The 29-year-old left-hander was struck on the helmet by a delivery whilst batting at training on Thursday. He was subsequently taken for scans and failed a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).

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Worker, who has recently returned from New Zealand’s three-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE, will be replaced in the squad by Otago Volts batsman Hamish Rutherford.

Rutherford, another 29-year-old left-hand opener, has been in good form this season and will travel this evening to Tauranga from Christchurch, where he has been playing in the Ford Trophy.

Worker will remain with the A squad and work through the standard HIA concussion protocols, with a view to being available for the second and third First-Class matches against India A at Hamilton and Whangarei later this month.