Sodhi to replace Astle for Indian tour

Legspinner Todd Astle’s Black Caps cricket tour of India is over, after just three deliveries.

Astle was officially ruled out of the tour ahead of New Zealand’s final warmup game against an Indian Board President’s XI in Mumbai yesterday, due to a groin strain.

It means a reprieve for Ish Sodhi who was originally picked for the three Twenty20 internationals only, but has now been added to the ODI squad for game one of the three-match series against India on Sunday night.

Astle suffered the injury halfway through his first over, and limped off during the tourists’ 30-run defeat to the President’s XI in their tour opener on Tuesday.

Further assessment and a scan confirmed Astle to have suffered a tear on his right side, which will see him ruled out for around three weeks.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said it was cruel timing for Astle. ‘‘Todd was really impressive in the recent New Zealand A tour over here and had done everything he could to get himself ready for this series.’’

Astle made his test debut in the win over Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 but played just one test and two T20 internationals since.