New Zealand batsman Hamish Rutherford has been called up as cover ahead of the third and final T20 against Sri Lanka on Friday.
The wounded Black Caps had faced the prospect of having just 10 fully fit players available for the series finale in Pallekele after two more players were injured during their win on Tuesday night.
Four of New Zealand’s 14-man T20 squad were left with injuries at the end of Tuesday’s second T20 against Sri Lanka
Already missing Lockie Ferguson (fractured thumb) and Ross Taylor (hip flexor), Martin Guptill (abdominal) and Tom Bruce (knee) injured themselves during NZ’s bruising four-wicket win that secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
It left their 14-man squad with just 10 fit players at match end, but the Black Caps have since confirmed that Taylor will be fit for the final match of the series, while Rutherford has been called in as cover.
The Black Caps also confirmed that Guptill will definitely be unavailable for Friday’s game.
Even before Rutherford was called in, it appeared likely that either Taylor or Bruce could play in the series finale – even if not fully fit – with both players indicating their respective injuries weren’t overly serious.
Bruce added that the Black Caps are unlikely to train in the lead-up to Friday’s match to ensure they suffer no further setbacks.
“The boys will rest and recover tomorrow, and I’m not too sure if we’ll have a training the day before the game or not,” he told Radio Sport Breakfast.
“Probably with the amount of injuries, we might just rest up again.
“I’ll ice the knee and rest up the next couple of days. I think it should be right, fingers crossed anyway.”
Retired Kiwi quick turned commentator Kyle Mills made light of his former side’s injury plight during commentary on Tuesday, warming up his 40-year-old shoulders in the commentary box to indicate he’s ready to make a comeback in the final match of the series if required.
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