The White Ferns have suffered a blow less than a week out from their opening match of the Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
Batter Lauren Down was ruled out of the tournament on Saturday after suffering a fractured thumb when taking a catch in Thursday's fifth and final ODI against India in Queenstown.
The 26-year-old Aucklander would return home and await medical advice on the next steps of her recovery.
White Ferns head coach Bob Carter said the team were coming to terms with losing a valued squad member.
"Quite simply, the entire squad is absolutely gutted for Lauren.
"She's a very popular member of the group and it's fair to say the team were quite emotional when we got the news she was out of the tournament.
"You saw the impact Lauren had in the recent series against India; she played some really mature innings' in the middle order and her fielding was at an exceptional standard."
Wellington Blaze batter, Georgia Plimmer, would replace Down in the New Zealand squad for the World Cup.
Auckland Hearts seamer, Molly Penfold, was also set to join the squad as a traveling reserve player.
Both players would undergo the necessary five-day 'bridging in' isolation period before officially joining the White Ferns group.
The team arrived in Christchurch on Friday in preparation for warm-up matches against Pakistan and Australia on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively.
