Matt Henry will sit out the T20 series against Australia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Matt Henry and Tim Seifert have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Australia and will be replaced by Ben Sears and Will Young.
Henry suffered some hip soreness following the second test against South Africa in Hamilton and will require a short period of rest and strengthening to ensure he is fit for the test series against Australia later in the month.
Seifert has been withdrawn from the squad due to a torn abductor suffered while training for Northern Districts earlier in the week.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said he was confident both players would make swift recoveries ahead of important upcoming series and events.
"Matt's understandably disappointed, but a break for the T20s will ensure he's fully fit and ready to go for the Tests against Australia later this month," said Stead.
"We're gutted for Tim who has been a strong performer over recent series and is an important part of the squad.
Tim Seifert tore his abductor while training this week. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"We're hopeful he'll make a swift recovery ahead of an important period of T20I cricket for the team."
Stead said Sears and Young were strong replacements.
"Ben showed in his recent performances against Pakistan that he is a talented T20 bowler capable of influencing games of cricket for New Zealand," he said.
"Will has been a regular in the environment across formats for some time now and his recent performances for the Central Stags in the Super Smash show he his more than capable to contribute at this level."
The squad assembles in Wellington today and tomorrow, ahead of the first T20I against Australia at Sky Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Black Caps squad:
Mitchell Santner (c). Finn Allen, Trent Boult (games 2 & 3), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson*, Devon Conway (wk), Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee (game 1), Will Young.
*Potential T20I debut.
Australia squad:
Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Fixtures:
1st T20I - 7:10pm, Wednesday February 21- Sky Stadium, Wellington
2nd T20I - 7:10pm, Friday February 23 - Eden Park, Auckland
3rd T20I - 1pm, Sunday February 25 - Eden Park, Auckland
