Internet Desk: New Zealand suffered a blow to their ambition of winning their first ever test series win over Pakistan as pace spearhead Trent Bolt is ruled for the second test match at Hamilton starting from Friday. Matt Henry is expected to replace Bolt for the test match at Seddon Park.
Bolt has been troubled by “minor discomfort” in his left knee since the recent India tour and aggravated it further in the first Test against Pakistan at Christchurch. New Zealand won the first by eight wickets.
“We were optimistic he (Bolt) would be ready for Hamilton, but during training on Wednesday he felt further pain and has subsequently been ruled out of the Test,” Hesson said.
With the wicket expected to produce more swing than Hagley Oval, Blackcaps has added Doug Bracewell to their squad.
The visitors will be without their inspiration captain Misbah ul Haq as he had to rush back to Lahore to attend the funeral service of his father in law immediately after the test match at Christchurch. The Pakistan captain is also serving a one match suspension handed out to him by ICC for slow over rate at Hamilton.
Pakistan ODI captain Azhar Ali, who will lead his side in the absence of Misbah, can draw inspiration from a test match played at the same venue six years ago.
They beat the hosts by 10 wickets to win the test match. Asad Shafiq, who scored 83 in his sole innings then, said they need to repeat that “aggressive” approach.
“I remember that innings. I played good positive cricket and it really feels good to come back to the same ground,” he said Thursday.
“It seems a bit bowler-friendly wicket, some grass on it, but … we’re used to playing on these wickets in our domestic cricket.
“It’s a good challenge for us. We have to play positive and we have to play aggressive on this wicket.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor will undergo surgery next Wednesday, immediately after the Test, to remove a growth in his left eye.
Taylor has been troubled with his left eye in recent times. After consultation with an eye specialist, the veteran of 77 test matches will take the field at Seddon Park.
Taylor said although the growth did not affect his sight it was distracting mentally “when you play and miss the first couple of balls”.
After consulting a range of optometrists and specialists, he was confident an operation would clear up the issue.
“In any operation there’s a chance things won’t go as well as possible but the surgeon I talked to last night was pretty confident,” he said.