Matt Henry, New Zealand
Matt Henry[photo: twitter]

The 30-year-old New Zealand National Cricket Team right-arm pacer Matt Henry has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies National Cricket Team due to a rib injury.

The New Zealand tour of the West Indies 2022 consists of 6 white-ball games, including three T20Is and three ODIs. New Zealand have already sealed the T20I series with back-to-back wins in the first two games and the last T20I will be played on August 14. The ODI matches will be played on August 17, 19 and 21.

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New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, who has picked up 110 ODI wickets, 53 Test wickets and 7 T20I wickets, is said to have encountered pain in his left side during practice last week. After there were no signs of improvement New Zealand Cricket (NZC) decided to rule him out of the ODI series.

Matt Henry
Matt Henry and Neil Wagner. Credits: ICC

Talking about the pacer’s injury, the BlackCaps head coach Gary Stead said that it was not very serious, but there was a risk of the injury becoming worse with the pacer playing ODIs.

“It’s a shame for Matt to have to return home at this point of the tour,” head coach Stead said. 

“Although the injury is not overly serious – we felt there was a significant risk it would become worse through playing. Matt is on his way home as we speak and will begin his rehabilitation immediately with an eye to being ready for the ODI series in Australia in early September,” Stead added.

Ben comes fresh from a successful tour with the BLACKCAPS in Europe – Gary Stead on Matt Henry’s replacement

gary stead
Gary stead[photo: Sportstar: Hindu]
Wellington Firebirds pacer Ben Sears has been named as Henry’s replacement in the BlackCaps squad for the ODI series against West Indies. He has already played 6 T20Is, but has not made his ODI debut for New Zealand. The 24-year-old is expected to arrive in Jamaica on Sunday and fly to Barbados on Monday.

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While talking about the youngster, head coach Stead said that the pacer is an “exciting young prospect” and is ready to play ODIs for New Zealand.

“With the upcoming ODI series starting on Wednesday and consisting of three games over five days, we saw it as prudent to bring in a fully fit replacement.”

“Ben comes fresh from a successful tour with the BLACKCAPS in Europe and while he is yet to play ODI cricket – we believe he’s ready if called upon. At 24-years-old he’s an exciting young prospect and we like the pace and skills he possesses,” Stead opined.

New Zealand
Matt Henry[photo: Twitter]
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Sonanchal Gautam is the Assistant Content Manager at Cricketaddictor. He is a professional Wrestling and Hip-hop enthusiast.