Black Caps waiting on news of crocks

WITH Tim Southee ruled out of this third Test, New Zealand were still waiting to hear whether Trent Boult would be fit to lead the bowling attack.

It has been a series of despair for the Black Caps with injuries thwarting the side.The hosts are already without their most experienced batsman Ross Taylor, who suffered a calf tear in the first Test and has not been able to participate in the remaining two, while Boult missed the last Test.

Southee’s grade one hamstring injury means he will not be risked and three of Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, who is yet to play in the series, and allrounders Colin de Grandhomme and Jimmy Neesham are expected to be chosen.

South Africa, who won the second Test by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead, are not without their own injury worries, though.

Quinton de Kock, who made a classy 91 in the victory at the Basin Reserve, has tendon damage to his right index finger with the tourists set to make a late call on his availability. But it’s not just the final Test De Kock may miss.

“There is every likelihood he will miss the IPL because he will need at least four to six weeks recovery,” Mohammed Moosajee, South Africa’s team manager, who is also a medical doctor, said.

“Being a wicketkeeper, every time he catches the ball, the stress goes onto that area. The risk is that if he doesn’t have that four to six weeks rest, and he further aggravates it, it could jeopardise his participation in the Champions Trophy.”