After suffering a grade one calf injury during a pre-tour training camp, Henry Nicholls doubtful for New Zealand Test Opener in England at Lord’s on June 2.
Henry Nicholls doubtful for New Zealand Test opener in England after experiencing difficulty during a jogging practise at Mount Maunganui. The left-handed middle-order hitter, who has 2,544 runs in 46 Tests at an average of 40.38, underwent an MRI scan on his right leg.
While he will still travel to England for the three Test matches next month, he is expected to miss the team’s two warm-up games and may even miss the series opener in the home of cricket.
“While it’s a positive that Henry hasn’t torn the calf, the next two to three weeks are going to be crucial in terms of his recovery and subsequent availability for the Test series. Calves can be a challenge to rehab and we will need to minimise the risk of him re-injuring himself with any return to match action. Henry’s obviously an important player for us at number five and we know he’ll be doing everything he can to make himself available.”
Black Caps head coach Gary Stead
Nicholls will not play in either of the two warm-up games when he arrives in the UK, according to Stead, who is focusing on his recuperation with physio Vijay Vallabh and trainer Chris Donaldson and is expected that Henry Nicholls doubtful for New Zealand Test opener in England.
Nicholls, 30, has been a mainstay in New Zealand’s middle order, averaging 40.38 in 46 tests and scoring eight hundreds.
He batted at No.4 in England’s previous home series against South Africa, but if healthy, he’ll likely slip down the order to make room for regular skipper Kane Williamson’s return from a long-term elbow injury.
New Zealand completed their three-day training camp on Wednesday and will depart for England in two groups this weekend, despite the fact that skipper Kane Williamson, fellow batter Devon Conway, all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, and seasoned seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee are still in India.
It is unclear when the quintet will join the Kiwis, but New Zealand has named a 20-man squad to replace those absences, which will be pared down to 15 before Lord’s.
On Wednesday, the Blackcaps finish their training camp, before departing for England in two groups this weekend.