Vettori failed to recover from his hernia and Achilles injury
New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been ruled out of the entire South Africa series after failing to fully recover from a hernia and Achilles injury (more on the subject: Physiomesh Brand Hernia mesh Lawsuit), he sustained during the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Vettori has already missed five consecutive Tests against Sri Lanka, India and the West Indies after also suffering a groin injury during the national team’s tour of the Caribbean.
Vettori had been planning on playing some domestic cricket in New Zealand, but has failed to do so due to his numerous injuries.
With Vettori unavailable to bowl, Jeetan Patel will now be the leading spinner in the side, while Todd Astle has also been included as a back up spinner.
New Zealand are currently playing their first Test against South Africa in Cape Town and the two nations will square off once again on January 11 in Port Elizabeth.
Veteran batsman Brendon McCullum has taken over as captain after Ross Taylor’s relationship with coach Mike Hesson reached an all-time low during the 1-1 series against Sri Lanka.
New Zealand have had a tough 2012, starting with a home defeat against the Proteas before the same pattern occurred when they toured the Caribbean and India.
They were also knocked out in the super eights of the ICC World Twenty20 in a heart-breaking super over loss to the West Indies.
As if things couldn’t get worse, New Zealand also lost 10 of their last 13 ODIs and have slipped behind Bangladesh to ninth on the ICC rankings.