“We haven’t set a date for his return at this point”

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New Zealand pace bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the upcoming two-match Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka after he was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left foot.

Southee suffered the injury during the third ODI in Nelson and was subsequently replaced by fellow seamer Matt Henry, who will now take Southee’s spot in the Twenty20 squad.

“Tim was feeling really fresh after coming back from a break for the first two ODIs, so it’s certainly disappointing for him that this has happened now,” New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson said. “Tim’s obviously a key member of our team and been a strong performer for us in all three formats, so he’s a big loss.

“We haven’t set a date for his return at this point, but will continue to monitor him and work to get him back to full fitness as quickly as possible.”

The two-match Twenty20 series is set to get underway on Thursday at Mount Maunganui.