NZ vs SL: Left-arm quick of New Zealand Neil Wagner will not play in the forthcoming second Test against Sri Lanka due to a damaged right hamstring and a bulging disc in his back, according to a scan on Sunday.
The bowler was carried away for scans to determine the issue on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between the hosts and the Lankan Lions at the Hagley Oval after complaining of pain.
The loss of Wagner will be a big blow to the Black Caps since the skipper Tim Southee’s pace attack depends on the left-arm seamer. If he suffers an injury, Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, and Southee himself will be under a lot of strain.
The Black Caps have summoned in right-arm seam bowling all-rounder Doug Bracewell to replace Wagner’s enormous vacuum.
In the just-finished home series against England, Wagner was able to bowl spells that resulted in wickets for the Kiwis. In the first Test in Mount Maunganui, he scored four runs against the Three Lions, and he followed that up with another four runs in the second and final Test of the series in Wellington.
So, the hosts’ inability to use him in the current series against Sri Lanka will be extremely detrimental. Both teams have an identical chance of winning the current Test at Hagley Oval, which is dangling by a thread.
At day’s end on Day 4, the team captained by Tim Southee is 28/1 while attempting to reach a goal of 285 runs in the fourth innings. To win the game and take the series lead, they still need 257 runs. On Day 5, a lot will depend on the middle-order batsmen they have in Tom Latham and Kane Williamson.
As Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha seized a chance to dismiss opener Devon Conway with a caught and bowled, the hosts suffered a setback on Day 4. Conway died with a personal score of 5. To continue competing in the WTC final, the Sri Lankans must win the match.
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