Ken Williamson Ruled Out of First Test Against India Due to Back Injury

Wellington, October 9: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will not be traveling to India as initially planned and has been ruled out of the first Test in Bengaluru due to a recent back strain. The injury, sustained during the second Test against Sri Lanka, has delayed Williamson's departure, and he will undergo rehabilitation before joining the team in India, according to a statement released by New Zealand Cricket on Wednesday, October 9.

New Zealand selector Sam Wells expressed hope that Williamson will be available for the later stages of the series once his rehabilitation is complete.

"We've been advised that the best course of action for Kane is rest and rehabilitation to avoid exacerbating the injury. If everything goes according to plan, we expect Kane to be available for the latter part of the tour," Wells said. "While it is disappointing that Kane won't be available for the start of the tour, it opens up an opportunity for someone else to make an impact in a crucial series."

Mark Chapman, who is uncapped at the Test level, has been named as Williamson's replacement. Chapman has been a regular in New Zealand’s white-ball teams and boasts a first-class average of 41.9, with six centuries, including one against India A in 2020. He scored 245 runs in three matches in last season's Plunket Shield, including a century (123) against Otago Volts.

Wells added, "We believe Mark is one of our best players of spin and has an excellent track record in subcontinent conditions. He has shown his ability to handle spin effectively at the international level, and with his strong first-class record, we think he can succeed in the kind of conditions expected in India."

Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell will travel with the team for the first Test before returning home for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will replace him for the remainder of the series.

New Zealand Squad* 
Tom Latham (Captain), Tom Blundell (Wicketkeeper), Michael Bracewell (only first Test), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (only second and third Test), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.