KOLKATA: New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham will miss the second Test against India in Kolkata due to the rib injury that kept him out of the first match in Kanpur, coach Mike Hesson said on Wednesday.

Off-spinner Jeetan Patel’s flight from England was cancelled which means he will land in Kolkata only a day before the Test gets underway on Friday.

Patel is replacing fellow off-spinner Mark Craig who sustained a side strain in Kanpur, where India registered a 197-run victory to go 1-0 up in the three-Test series.

“Jimmy Neesham’s injury will rule him out of at least this Test,” Hesson told reporters. “That takes away options in terms of changing our balance a bit. But that’s okay. We are not able to get any replacement in time who is a batting all-rounder.”

New Zealand lost fast bowler Tim Southee to an ankle injury even before the Test series started.

India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja wreaked havoc on a slow, turning track in Kanpur, claiming 16 of the 20 Kiwi wickets.

Meanwhile, veteran opener Gautam Gambhir earned a shock recall to the Indian squad after two years in place of the injured Lokesh Rahul for the remainder of the Test series against New Zealand.

INDIAN batsman Rohit Sharma practises at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.—AP
INDIAN batsman Rohit Sharma practises at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.—AP

The 34-year-old Gambhir, who last played a Test in 2014 against England, has been picked in the 15-member squad after a good showing on India’s domestic circuit.

Rahul suffered a hamstring strain in the first Test and will not be available for the next two matches, said a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Gautam Gambhir as Rahul’s replacement for the next two Test matches,” the BCCI said.

The left-handed Gambhir, who recorded 356 runs in the recent Duleep Trophy domestic championship, has played 56 Tests for India since making his debut in 2004 against Australia.

Meanwhile pacer Ishant Sharma, who missed the first game due to the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya, was also ruled out of the second Test.

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav has been named as Sharma’s replacement.

Published in Dawn September 29th, 2016

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