Anderson injured his groin during the fourth ODI against Pakistan
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson will miss the first Test against Sri Lanka due to a groin strain.
Anderson suffered the injury during the fourth ODI against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi.
It has also been announced that Mark Craig will be the only specialist spinner in the squad after he recorded figures of 7-94 and 3-109 in the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah.
Meanwhile, batsman Dean Brownlie, who has not played Test cricket since May 2013, has been included in the 13-man squad.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who opened the batting during the recent Test series against Pakistan, will return to his middle order spot once again. Even though McCullum scored 202 in the third Test, New Zealand’s general manager of national selection Bruce Edgar stated that he would be better suited in the middle order during the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka.
“This is another series, in different conditions and against a completely different opponent,” Edgar said. “In these circumstances, we feel Brendon’s better suited to, and offers more value, down the order.”
New Zealand squad for first Test Brendon McCullum (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Mark Craig, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson