Ben Sears, the New Zealand fast bowler, has been sidelined for the upcoming three-match Test series against India due to a knee injury. Jacob Duffy, who is yet to make his Test debut, has been named as Sears’ replacement and is set to travel to India on Wednesday morning, October 16.
Last week, Sears underwent scans in New Zealand after experiencing pain in his left knee during training for the Test tour of Sri Lanka. According to a release from New Zealand Cricket, “scans revealed a tear to his meniscus,” which delayed his departure for India. Following medical advice, it was confirmed that Sears would not participate in the tour, and further information on his treatment and rehabilitation plan will be provided shortly.
Duffy has played six One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 14 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for New Zealand and is the leading wicket-taker for Otago, with a total of 299 first-class wickets to his name.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment over Sears’ injury, stating, “We’re obviously disappointed for Ben, who made a strong start to his Test career during the home summer and offers a genuine pace option. It remains to be seen how long we’ll be without him, but we’re hopeful his road to full recovery will be a short one.”
Stead also noted the opportunity for Duffy, saying, “It’s an exciting opportunity for Jacob, who has been around the squad before. With three Tests ahead of us, he has every chance of making his Test debut. Jacob’s recent experience playing for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship certainly helped his selection. His performances in white-ball cricket for the BLACKCAPS have always been impressive, and we’re confident he’ll be able to contribute if called upon.”
The first Test match against India is set to commence on October 16 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. However, there is concern regarding rain impacting the match, as India’s scheduled practice session on Tuesday was canceled, and the weather forecast for the remainder of the week appears unfavorable. The second Test will take place in Pune starting October 24, while the final Test is scheduled for Mumbai on November 1.
