New Zealand’s star batter suffered an injury in the very match where he laid the foundation for his team’s victory with a brilliant innings.
Daryl Mitchell, who rescued the team with a century in the making, found himself in trouble as well. The New Zealand batter picked up a groin strain during that innings against West Indies, putting his participation in the rest of the series in serious doubt.
With uncertainty surrounding Mitchell, Henry Nicholls has been called up for the squad ahead of the second ODI.
In Sunday’s first ODI in Christchurch, Mitchell played a superb knock of 119 off 118 balls, setting up New Zealand’s win. Losing him would be a massive setback for the hosts.
The 34-year-old has become one of the team’s most reliable batters. In just 56 ODIs, he has already scored 7 centuries and 11 fifties, boasting an average of 53.13 and a strike rate of 93.85.
Nicholls, who returns to the side, has played 81 ODIs. After being dropped, the 34-year-old rediscovered form in domestic cricket. In this season’s Ford Trophy, he has already scored two centuries in five matches.
If Mitchell is ruled out, Nicholls will still have to compete with Mark Chapman for a place in the XI. The left-hander is already part of the squad and has had a strong year, scoring a century and two fifties in four ODIs. His most recent knock was a stunning 132 off 111 balls against Pakistan, though he still struggles to secure a regular spot due to team balance.
The second match of the series will be played on Wednesday in Napier, followed by the final ODI on Saturday in Hamilton.
