Jamieson ruled out of England Test Series with Stress Fracture: know injury details
New Zealand cricket has received some bad news with the confirmation of Kyle Jamieson’s absence from the upcoming Test series against England. Jamieson had been out of international cricket since June of this year due to a back injury.
Kyle Jamieson suffers stress fracture injury
Sadly, scans ahead of the opening match revealed another stress fracture in his back, which will rule him out of the series. Jamieson will return to Christchurch for further evaluation, with no set timeline for his recovery.
“It’s really gutting for Kyle to have this happen after he’d put so much hard work into getting himself back on the park,” said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead. Despite not feeling any pain at present, Jamieson’s injury will likely keep him out of action for an indefinite period of time.
Matt Henry, with 78 Test caps and 317 wickets to his name, will miss the first match of the series as he awaits the birth of his child. The absence of these two key players has led to the inclusion of Jacob Duffy and Scott Kuggeleijn in the squad, both of whom are uncapped at the Test level.
Controversy Surrounding Kuggeleijn’s Inclusion
Kuggeleijn’s inclusion in the squad has already caused some controversy, with many questioning his selection after he was tried and found not guilty of rape in February 2017. Despite this, Stead defends the decision to pick Kuggeleijn, citing his ability to perform both with the ball and the bat.
“I get given the players I can choose from, and we have gone with a resilient character from a bowling point of view,” Stead said. “He is a guy who, when you lose two key bowlers, you look around and ask who can do a job for us internationally, and he is one who can.”
Challenges for New Zealand Cricket
In addition to the absence of key players, New Zealand’s preparations for the first Test have also been impacted by the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, which has caused delays in the arrival of some players. Tom Blundell, who recently welcomed his second child, will also link up with the side later, along with Henry Nicholls.
Despite these setbacks, the team will look to rebuild and find resilience in the face of these challenges. New Zealand cricket has a strong tradition of adapting to adverse circumstances, and the upcoming Test series will provide an opportunity for the players to demonstrate their skills and determination.
While the absence of Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry will be a major blow to New Zealand cricket, the team will look to rise to the challenge and perform to the best of their abilities. With Kuggeleijn’s controversial inclusion and the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle, the upcoming Test series will provide a true test of the resilience and resolve of the New Zealand cricket team.
