Paceman Mark Gillespie will miss New Zealand's tour of the West Indies after damaging his ankle while running, adding to the Black Caps' injury list, officials said Tuesday.
Published: Jul 03, 2012, 12:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 03, 2012, 12:20 PM (IST)
Mark Gillespie was due to travel to Antigua for the first of two Tests © Getty Images
Wellington: Jul 3, 2012
Paceman Mark Gillespie will miss New Zealand‘s tour of the West Indies after damaging his ankle while running, adding to the Black Caps’ injury list, officials said Tuesday.
Gillespie was due to travel to Antigua for the first of two Tests beginning on July 25 but chief selector Kim Littlejohn said he would remain in New Zealand after suffering ligament damage and severe bruising to his ankle.
“As a precautionary measure Mark feels that it would be the right decision to stay in Wellington to continue working on his rehabilitation,” Littlejohn said.
New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor has already confirmed he will miss the five-match one-day series beginning in Kingston on Friday after injuring his shoulder during a pre-tour Twenty20 international series in Florida.
Taylor, whose side were crushed by the West Indies in both the Florida T20 matches, is also in doubt for the Test series.
Meanwhile, veteran allrounder Jacob Oram has been ruled out of the one-day series after straining his knee during the T20s, forcing selectors to call up Trent Boult to boost the tourists’ bowling stocks.
Batsman Kane Williamson, 21, will lead the Black Caps during the one-dayers, making him New Zealand’s youngest-ever limited overs captain.
Brendon McCullum will take over the captain’s duties in the Test series if Taylor is unfit.
New Zealand have never won a Test or one-day series in the West Indies. (AFP)
