Cricket: Mills ruled out of WC

New Zealand opening bowler Kyle Mills has been ruled out of the remainder of the cricket World Cup with injury and will be replaced by Wellington left-armer Andy McKay.

Mills suffered a quad strain in the win over Canada on March 13 and although his injury had improved he would not be at full fitness in time to feature in the semifinal on March 29.

The Auckland paceman acted as a drinks carrier in the Black Caps' shock 49-run quarterfinal defeat of South Africa in Dhaka this morning (NZT) and was involved in a confrontation with Proteas batsman Faf du Plessis.

The International Cricket Council's technical committee gave permission for McKay to replace Mills in the 15-man squad yesterday.

McKay will join the squad in Colombo on March 27.

He is the second replacement player called up by the Black Caps with Daryl Tuffey already with the squad after Hamish Bennett was forced home.

- NZPA