Internet Desk: New Zealand were dealt with another blow ahead of their upcoming tour of India as frontline seamer Mitchell McClenagahan was ruled out of the ODI series with a pelvis injury. The Black Caps are set to be without two frontline seamers for next month’s ODI series in India as Adam Milne was also ruled out due to an injury.
McClenaghan, who has taken 82 ODI wickets in 48 matches, played for the Black Caps at the World T20 in India in March, but has not played a one-day international since taking a nasty blow to the eye while batting against Pakistan in Wellington on January 25.
The fiery quick fractured bones around his left eye socket when a bouncer from Anwar Ali went between the visor and grill of his helmet.
McClenaghan had metal plates put in his skull four days later and while not considered for the Chappell-Hadlee series against Australia in February, recovered in time to play four of New Zealand’s five matches at the World T20.
Although not officially confirmed, Milne is also set to miss the ODI series in India as he continues to recover from a recent elbow operation.
The 24-year-old Central Districts seamer is playing in the three one-day matches between a New Zealand XI and an Emerging Players at Lincoln, near Christchurch, next week, but national selector Gavin Larsen indicated he would not be bowling.
“He’s travelling nicely and he’s going to play in those games, but we are keen to keep expanding his batting game so he’s going to play as a batsman,” Larsen said.
“It’s probably fair to say that it would be a stretch [he will make the squad for India].”
The absence of both Milne and McClenaghan could increase the chances test squad member Doug Bracewell makes the ODI group to stay on in India, with Matt Henry, Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Jimmy Neesham all likely to make the cut as seam options.
If the selectors want to replace McClenaghan with another left-arm option, it may pave the way for a quicker than expected international return for Ben Wheeler.