Tim Southee. Photo / Richard Robinson
Jacob Oram has been ruled out of the third cricket test against England starting here tomorrow because of a hip injury, forcing New Zealand to select two debutants for the series decider at McLean Park.
Opening bowler Kyle Mills withdrew yesterday with a knee problem, facilitating the promotion
of 19-year-old Northern Districts swing bowler Tim Southee.
Allrounder Oram, who has shouldered a significant workload with the ball during the tests in Hamilton and Wellington, has been troubled by a hip problem and although he was able to bowl in the nets yesterday he could only take a minimal part in today's final session.
He is replaced by South African-born Wellington allrounder Grant Elliott, who has been part of the squad throughout the series.
The 28-year-old, who will be the first South African to play for New Zealand, is considered a batting allrounder but will be expected to bowl a significant amount of overs to compensate for the loss of fellow medium pacer Oram.
Southee, who made his debut for New Zealand in the Twenty20 matches against England last month before starring at the under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, will open the bowling with Chris Martin.
The omission of Wellington seamer Mark Gillespie is the only alteration to the side beaten by 126 runs in the second test in Wellington on Monday not influenced by injury.
He misses out to spinner Jeetan Patel, who has been brought in to partner Daniel Vettori on a flat track expected to offer little encouragement to the pace bowlers.
Vettori and Patel were effective in the series opener in Hamilton, a match New Zealand won by by 189 runs.
Meanwhile, England also have an injury concern before finalising their team.
Paul Collingwood had a precautionary scan on his left calf today after it was badly bruised when he dropped a catch off Mathew Sinclair in Wellington.
If Collingwood is fit, England are expected to field an unchanged side.
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Jamie How, Matthew Bell, Stephen Fleming, Ross Taylor, Mathew Sinclair, Brendon McCullum, Grant Elliott, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin.
- NZPA
