Central Districts batsman Ross Taylor is headed to the Champions Trophy cricket tournament as cover for injured New Zealand allrounder Scott Styris.
The 22-year-old middle order batsman flies to India tomorrow as a precaution though he cannot officially join the Black Caps tour party until Styris is officially ruled outand returns home.
Styris has been hampered by a recurring back injury first sustained while he was on English county cricket duty with Middlesex on September 3.
It flared again a week later while he was bowling but he was cleared to travel to India earlier this month after passing a fitness test in Christchurch.
However, the problem resurfaced during training in Mumbai, forcing him to miss New Zealand's opening 87-run victory over South Africa on Monday.
Styris and fast bowler Shane Bond (back) were also ruled out of tonight's second pool match against Sri Lanka.
Black Caps manager Lindsay Crocker said Styris would be given "every opportunity" to remain in the squad and play later in the tournament.
New Zealand's final pool game is against Pakistan next Wednesday ahead of the semifinals and final, should they make it through.
Taylor, who made his one-day international debut against the West Indies in March, was considered unlucky not to make the initial tour squad.
He scored a quickfire 15 and 31 in two games against the Windies in Napier and Auckland, earning a call up after amassing 603 runs at 67.0 in the 2005-06 domestic State Shield competition.
