Tim Southee ruled out of Test series with ankle injury

27-year old New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has been ruled out of the Test series against India with an ankle injury. Southee is perhaps the spearhead of the New Zealand attack and his injury comes as a body blow to both the Kiwis coaching staff as well as himself. This will leave much of the burden on Kiwi pacer Trent Boult.

India will play New Zealand in their 500th Test match in the first Test at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. While this will mark a grand occasion, the BCCI is set to reward the former captains of the Indian cricket team on the 22nd of September.

As for Tim Southee however, reports from various sources go on to suggest that the pacer has suffered a grade two ligament tear. He will now return to New Zealand where he is expected to undergo a rehabilitation program with the hopes of being fit once again for the subsequent ODI series that will commence from the 16th of October.

Mike Hesson, the New Zealand coach went on to add that Matt Henry will provide cover for Southee whilst the latter flies back to New Zealand. Hesson also went on to add that Southee’s hard work went in vain as he would require at least 7-10 days of rest for the same.

“Tim has been working hard in preparation for this tour, so he’s understandably very disappointed to be ruled out of all three Tests,” New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said on Friday (September 16).

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“The focus now is for Tim to give his ankle 7-10 days rest, before slowly building his bowling loads back up ahead of the ODI series. We’ve got a replacement who is ready to go in Matt Henry and he’ll join the team before the start of the first Test.”