Blundell sustained the injury while batting on the first day of the Christchurch Test. He appeared uncomfortable running between the wickets and was unable to take the field on Day 2. With Blundell sidelined, stand-in captain Tom Latham took over wicketkeeping duties.
NZC Confirms Blundell’s Injury
Before play on Day 3, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that Blundell would not recover in time for the second Test at the Basin Reserve, starting December 10. Mitchell Hay has been added to the squad and will join the team in Wellington on December 7.
Blundell’s injury adds to a list of setbacks for New Zealand in this Test. Fast bowler Matt Henry and seam-bowling allrounder Nathan Smith have also been ruled out, with Smith unable to bowl or field on Day 4 and Henry leaving the field after bowling his 11th over to undergo scans.
With several key players unavailable, New Zealand relied on part-time spinners Michael Bracewell and Rachin Ravindra to bowl overs. The team was also without middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell, who is still recovering from a groin injury and missed the first Test.
Mitchell Hay, currently representing Canterbury in the Plunket Shield, will finish the first two days of that match before joining the national side. Having played seven ODIs and 12 T20Is over the past year, Hay could make his Test debut if Mitchell is not fit in time. If Mitchell returns, New Zealand may reshuffle their batting order by promoting Will Young and adjusting Latham’s position to cover for Blundell’s absence.
