NZ’s Injury Crisis Grows As Pacer Dislocates Shoulder In His First Test In 2 Years
New Zealand will have to make do with 10 men for the remainder of the second Test
New Zealand’s Blair Tickner endured one of the most bittersweet days imaginable as minutes after registering his best figures in Tests, he had to be stretchered off the field due to a dislocated shoulder.
Playing his first Test since March 2023, Tickner, who got an opportunity thanks to injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith, blew through the Windies top-order as he dismissed four of the Windies top five after the tourists made a bright start, putting on 66 for the first wicket. The right-armer first trapped Brandon King LBW and then also dismissed Kavem Hodge (0), Shai Hope (48) and Roston Chase (29) to register career-best figures and give the Blackcaps firm control of the second Test.
However, minutes after he finished his spell and completed his 16th over, tragedy struck as the 32-year-old severely injured his left shoulder trying to stop a boundary off the bowling of debutant Michael Rae. Stationed at fine-leg, Tickner put in a dive to stop a tickle off the thigh pads of Tevin Imlach but it turned nasty as he landed awkwardly and ended up doing serious damage.
The injury was bad enough for the speedster to be stretchered off the field as his teammates watched in horror as he got taken off the ground after a lengthy delay.
Tickner’s injury means that the Blackcaps will have to make do with a handicap for a second straight Test match running. Midway through the first Test in Christchurch, both Henry and Nathan Smith suffered injuries as New Zealand were effectively reduced to 9-men in the fourth innings. That meant that West Indies pulled off a historic draw, batting out 163.3 overs.
The handicap the Blackcaps were dealt with forced off-spinner Michael Bracewell to bowl a record marathon spell in Christchurch but with him not being a part of the XI in this Test, that duty could be thrust upon either Glenn Phillips or Rachin Ravindra.
New Zealand ended day 1 on 24/0 after bowling West Indies out for 205.
