During the World Cup match between South Africa and New Zealand in Pune, fast bowler Matt Henry injured his right hamstring and had to leave the field halfway through his sixth over. The over, the 27th of South Africa’s innings, was finished by James Neesham.
Henry was treated by the team management in the hopes that they could bandage him and get him back on the field, but it was later announced that he would not be going back to bowl. According to New Zealand Cricket, a scan will be performed on him on Thursday.
Jimmy Neesham also had an injury when he was following through, taking a blow to his hand. He batted at No. 9, behind Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner, while New Zealand was chasing 357 at 109 for 7.
With Henry joining Lockie Ferguson (achilles), Mark Chapman (calf), and Kane Williamson (thumb) on the injured list, New Zealand’s team of fifteen players is down to only eleven fit players. Ish Sodhi was employed as a stand-in fielder for Henry, but the playing circumstances do not allow travelling reserves to take the field, so when Tim Southee momentarily left the field, questions would have arisen over who might field for New Zealand.
But a reserve fielder may be substituted by a male member of the team management. This implies that even though Tom Blundell is traveling with the team, New Zealand would have had to contact batting coach Luke Ronchi if they had needed a backup fielder. Blundell won’t be included in the official team until an existing fifteen player is ruled out and a replacement is approved by the ICC. Kyle Jamieson was also originally listed as a traveling reserve for New Zealand, but he was sent home before to Ferguson’s injury and has since played in the Plunket Shield for Canterbury.
Since their roster was announced in September, injuries have plagued New Zealand’s campaign. Although Williamson and Southee still had a thumb fracture and an ACL injury, respectively, they were named in the touring group. Williamson made his comeback for the third game between New Zealand and Bangladesh, but he later sustained a thumb fracture and isn’t likely to play again until later in the competition. Southee, who played his first World Cup game against South Africa, was available from New Zealand’s sixth match against India but was not chosen.
