Published: Feb 02, 2019, 09:15 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 02, 2019, 09:15 AM (IST)
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill ended up hurting his back during a training session on Saturday that saw him being assisted off the ground by team physiotherapist and security manager.
Guptill reportedly aggravated his lower back while making a throw during fielding drills at the Basin Reserve. He looked in pain while hobbling off the ground.
In a statement, New Zealand Cricket hasn’t ruled him out of the fifth and final ODI of the ongoing series against India but said they will take a final call after an assessment on Sunday morning.
Martin Guptill is in doubt for tomorrow’s fifth ODI against India after aggravating his lower back while fielding this afternoon. He’s been assessed by team physio Vijay Vallabh & will be reassessed tomorrow morning. Colin Munro will rejoin the ODI squad tomorrow morning #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/grfVzgvHTa
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 2, 2019
Guptill hasn’t been able to make an impact in the series, scoring 47 runs across four innings so far. He did look to have find some form in New Zealand’s crushing victory in Hamilton when he began the run-chase with a six and two consecutive fours off the very first delivery he faced before holing out off the fourth.
While the hosts will be unlikely to risk him for the dead rubber in Wellington, that might open a space at the top which in all likeliness will be filled by another struggling batsman Colin Munro.
Munro was released to play in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition to be played on Saturday and was to fly back to Wellington to re-join the squad on Sunday.
