CUTTACK, India, Nov 5: New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns has been ruled out of Thursday’s one-day tri-series game against India with a hamstring injury.

“Cairns hasn’t come through,” coach Ashley Ross told reporters after the player failed a fitness test.

The 33-year-old Cairns first broke down in the rain-abandoned opening game against India on October 23 and missed the next match against Australia.

He returned for the next game on Monday, a two-wicket loss to the world champions in Pune, returning figures of one for 48 from his 10 overs, but aggravated the injury.

Ross said medium-pacer Paul Hitchcock would miss his second straight game due to a side strain.

Australia top the table with 18 points and have qualified for the Nov 18 final. India have eight points and the Kiwis four after three of their six group games.

The Kiwis are expected to face a fired-up Indian side following captain Stephen Fleming’s outburst against the scheduling of the series, which he said favoured the hosts.

Fleming was critical that all matches between Australia and New Zealand had early morning starts where seaming conditions favour the team bowling first, while India play only day-night games.

Fleming, whose hopes of making the final nosedived after losing two day games against Australia, alleged the schedule was fixed to suit India.

“It’s a case of two competitions going on,” he had said.

“Australia and us play one competition where it seams around and it’s tough to bat, while India play another one where it gets slower and slower and turns.”

India skipper Rahul Dravid played down the scheduling controversy, saying he was more interested in how his team fared in the series.

“We have to win our remaining games and that is all I am concerned about,” said Dravid, standing in for injured Sourav Ganguly.

India, who have a 1-1 record against Australia in the series, will miss seasoned leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who opted out of the game because of the death of his father.

The hosts named Sairaj Bahutule as the replacement, but have yet to decide whether to include him or left-arm spinner Murali Kartik in the playing XI.—AFP/Reuters