HAMILTON: Luckless West Indies batsman Sunil Ambris suffered a fractured arm during a short-ball salvo in the second Test in Hamilton on Tuesday, forcing him out of the ODI series later this month.

Ambris was on four when caught by a rising delivery during a feisty spell from New Zealand short-ball specialist Neil Wagner.

He stayed on the field to take a single off Tim Southee in the next over before walking off when Wagner returned to resume his bouncer barrage.

“He has been taken to hospital and X-rays confirmed a fractured arm,” a team spokesman said. “This means he will also be out of the ODI series.”

New Zealand, meanwhile, are to rest senior players including Kane Williamson and Tim Southee for part of the limited-overs series against the West Indies.

“It’s a long summer, so for those guys playing in all three formats it’s important we keep them fresh and build depth leading into a World Cup year,” selector Gavin Larsen said in naming the squad on Tuesday. “Tim and Kane will both take breaks during this series, but there will be others who will also rest throughout the season.”

Williamson and Southee will play in the opening One-day International on Dec 20 before being replaced by Neil Broom and Mitchell Santner for the next two games in the three-match series on Dec 23 and 26.

Tom Latham will take over the captaincy in Williamson’s absence.

George Worker was confirmed to open the batting in place of the injured Martin Guptill.

New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson (captain, first ODI only), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (captain, second and third ODIs), Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Tim Southee (first ODI only), Ross Taylor, George Worker, Neil Broom (second and third ODIs), Mitchell Santner (second and third ODIs).

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017