Injury rules Williamson out of test

The Black Caps will be without captain Kane Williamson for the second test against India and possibly much of the home international summer through injury.

Williamson – who has been battling a persistent elbow injury over the past year which bothered him during the Twenty20 World Cup last month – was left out of the New Zealand XI for the second test in Mumbai which had a delayed start yesterday.

‘‘His left elbow tendon flared up again through the last test,’’ New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said.

‘‘He was obviously in considerable discomfort throughout the test and since then, subsequently, it hasn’t got better at all.

‘‘It looks like it could be for a sustained period.’’

While he played all of New Zealand’s matches as they got to the T20 World Cup final before losing to Australia – a game in which the captain starred with the bat – Williamson was unable to train in between games.

He played the first test of the twotest series in Kanpur.

‘‘It’s been a challenging year for Kane trying to manage his elbow and it’s important we now formulate a good plan with him to ensure the injury does not continue to plague him,’’ Stead said.

‘‘He will likely require a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading.

‘‘It’s been a really tough time for Kane having to deal with such a persistent injury.

‘‘While we’ve been able to manage the injury through the year and the T20 World Cup, the shift to test cricket and the increased batting loading has reaggravated his elbow.

‘‘Ultimately the injury is still not right and while he got through the Kanpur test, it was clear playing in the second test wasn’t an option.

‘‘We all know how much he loves playing and leading this team, particularly in test cricket, so it’s a very difficult decision to sit out.’’

Tom Latham replaced Williamson as New Zealand’s captain for the second test in Mumbai, which was unable to start on time due to a wet outfield after two days of heavy rain in the city, while Daryl Mitchell replaced Williamson in the team.

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja have been ruled out of the Indian side.

The trio all suffered injuries in the first test. India have usual test captain Virat Kohli back in the team after he was rested for the first test and he won the toss and chose to bat, with Mohammed Siraj and Jayant Yadav the replacements for Sharma and Jadeja.

New Zealand’s next international match is the first of two tests against Bangladesh, starting on New Year’s Day in Mount Maunganui.