Injured Black Cap Nicholls to travel to England for test series
Cricket
Injured Black Cap Nicholls to travel to England for test series
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Henry Nicholls will depart for England with the New Zealand squad this weekend but remains a doubt for the first of three tests because of a calf injury, Black Caps coach Gary Stead said on Wednesday.
There were concerns that the 30-year-old middle-order batsman would miss the tour because of the training injury but scans revealed he had strained rather than torn the calf muscle in his right leg.
"While it s a positive that Henry hasn t torn the calf, the next two to three weeks are going to be crucial in terms of his recovery and subsequent availability for the test series," Stead said in a news release.
"Calves can be a challenge to rehab and we will need to minimise the risk of him re-injuring himself with any return to match action.
"Henry s obviously an important player for us at number five and we know he ll be doing everything he can to make himself available."
Left-hander Nicholls has been a fixture in New Zealand s middle order for the last five years, averaging 40.38 with eight centuries in 46 tests.
New Zealand named an extended 20-man squad for the three-test series last week. Read full story
Stead said Nicholls was unlikely to play much part in tour games against Sussex and a First Class Counties XI which precede the first test at Lord s from June 2-6.
