New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series at home against England with a hip injury.
The 29-year-old batsman represented Northern Districts against Canterbury at Hagley Oval in the opening round of the Plunket Shield and the decision to rest him was taken after the game.
“It’s disappointing timing for Kane at the start of an exciting Kiwi summer, but we feel it’s the right decision with a busy season ahead.”
“We’ve been monitoring the injury for a while now and it’s the same issue that ruled him out of the final Test against Bangladesh back in March,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead.
Fast bowler Tim Southee will lead the Black Caps in Williamson’s absence.
England will play five T20Is in New Zealand, starting on November 1, followed by a two-match Test series.
Lockie Ferguson, the 90mph fast bowler who lit up the 2019 World Cup with 21 wickets, is part of a greenhorn New Zealand board XI as he returns from a broken thumb.
Ferguson is also down to face England in the series proper before making way for Trent Boult after the first three matches.
New Zealand squad:
Tim Southee (c), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (for the first three matches), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Trent Boult (final two matches).
