ZIM vs NZ | New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke to miss second Test with back injury

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ByVenkateswaran N, SportsCafe Editor

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New Zealand will miss the services of pacer Will O’Rourke after he was ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe, scheduled to start in Bulawayo on August 7. Left-arm pacer Ben Lister was already added to the squad as cover after O’Rourke endured a stiff back during the first Test.

‌Will O’Rourke joins Nathan Smith in the list of injured players as the New Zealand pacer was ruled out of the second and final Test against Zimbabwe, set to start at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo from Thursday. The fast bowler, who endured a stiff back on the third day of the first Test, has been sent home for further medical supervision. New Zealand Cricket had already named Ben Lister as cover in case O’Rourke did not recover on time, and the left-arm pacer will continue to be with the squad.

"We are hopeful it's nothing too serious," New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram said. "When he's so important to our side for the next six to eight months, but also next year with all the Test cricket, we've got some big tours, we need to make sure we look after the big guy and make sure that he's okay. So we have our fingers crossed for him and hopefully he'll be back in the park soon."

O’Rourke went wicketless after bowling 13 overs in the first innings of the first Test against Zimbabwe before picking up three wickets from 10 overs in the second as New Zealand cantered to a nine-wicket win. O’Rourke joins Nathan Smith, who was also ruled out of the second game with an abdominal strain while batting in the first Test, with all-rounder Zakary Foulkes replacing him in the side.

New Zealand leads the two-match series 1-0, with regular captain Tom Latham also missing the first Test with an injury. It remains to be seen whether the left-handed opener gets fit in time to helm the side in their last game of the Zimbabwe tour.

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