Nicholls faces check after head knock

Henry Nicholls will be monitored by Black Caps medical staff and withdrawn from the first cricket test if he shows any delayed concussion symptoms before today’s third day.

There were gasps around Bay Oval in the penultimate over of day two when England speedster Jofra Archer clocked Nicholls on the helmet with a 138kmh bouncer.

Nicholls ducked and took the full brunt of the red Kookaburra on the back of his head. He kept his feet but was clearly rattled as England’s players and batting partner BJ Watling rushed to check his welfare.

After an initial assessment by New Zealand physiotherapist Tommy Simsek in the centre, and a short delay, Nicholls batted on and faced the next five balls of Archer’s over without incident.

He went to stumps 26 not out. Nicholls was to be monitored by Simsek last night and this morning.

A team spokesman said, under ICC concussion rules, if Simsek saw any obvious signs of concussion then Nicholls would be ruled out of the test immediately. Wicketkeeping and batting cover Tom Blundell is the obvious replacement if required.

If there is doubt, Nicholls will be assessed by the match doctor before today’s play.

Archer arrived with a fearsome reputation for his first offshore test, and bowled 14 wicketless overs for 40 runs yesterday with his fastest delivery around 145kmh as New Zealand’s batsmen largely played him well. But Archer has form for knocking batsmen out of matches with his deceptively quick bouncers.

New Zealand A opener Hamish