Ross Taylor retired hurt for 8 in New Zealand’s first innings © AFP
Ross Taylor has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa in Wellington and could spend longer on the sidelines as a result of a calf injury sustained during the Dunedin match.
Taylor, New Zealand’s joint second-highest Test century-maker alongside Kane Williamson, suffered a low grade tear of the right calf while batting on the second day and retired hurt on 8 but returned to complete his innings at the fall of the ninth wicket although was restricted in his movements.
A replacement will named shortly with one of Colin Munro, Neil Broom or Dean Brownlie expected to take Taylor’s spot in the middle order.
New Zealand’s other injured player, Trent Boult, will travel with the squad to Wellington and will be monitored due to a sore hip which prevented him from bowling on the fourth afternoon.
Boult bowled 15 overs in South Africa’s second innings, after delivering 32.4 in the first, before being forced off the field. He would not have been able to bowl for the first 90 minutes of play on the fifth morning because of time off the field and there was no word on whether he would have played a further part in the Dunedin Test at all.
New Zealand have reinforcements in the form of Tim Southee, who was dropped for the first Test, and could look to Matt Henry to bolster the seam bowling department.
Play on the fifth day was delayed by rain, which was forecast to continue throughout the day. Neither team were at the ground by the scheduled start of play and a draw seemed the likeliest outcome.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo