Plagued with several injuries in the middle of the tournament, New Zealand have been forced to call up Kyle Jamieson as a cover. The six feet eight inches tall right-arm seamer is expected to join the squad today (November 2) and train with the team tomorrow (November 3).

New Zealand started the World Cup with two of their senior-most players being unavailable, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee. As luck would have it, Williamson injured himself again in his comeback game after missing the first couple of matches and is sitting out currently.4

Southee has recovered and played the last game against South Africa in Pune, however, New Zealand have been struck with several new injury blows lately. Lockie Ferguson suffered an Achilles injury and missed out in the last game against South Africa, while Matt Henry and Jimmy Neesham both suffered injuries during the game.

Henry hurt his right hamstring in the middle of his sixth over, which was then completed by Neesham. The latter then was hit on his hand while bowling. Henry didn’t return to bowl or field after his injury and wasn’t able to run when he came out to bat at No.11 in the run-chase, while Neesham was pushed down the order to No.9 as he found it difficult to bat after the blow to his hand.

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While Neesham has been cleared of a fracture, New Zealand are still awaiting scan results for Henry. Head coach Gary Stead said that the injuries meant they were forced to call in a backup. “The severity of Matt’s injury, combined with a short turnaround to Pakistan, meant we couldn’t risk being a bowler down for Saturday,” Stead said.

Jameson was with the New Zealand World Cup squad in the earlier part of the tournament as Southee was still recovering from his injury. Since then, he flew back home and played a Plunket Shield game and has now been recalled to join the squad as a cover.

“He’ll [Jamieson] likely train with us on Friday with a mind to being available for Saturday’s game [against Pakistan]. Kyle was able to train for two full weeks with us earlier in the tournament and has since played a Plunket Shield match – so we’re confident he’ll be able to hit the ground running,” said Stead.