New Zealand Cricket's medical panel will meet today to probe the reasons behind the Black Caps' injury woes.
Allrounder Dion Nash is the latest casualty on the just-completed tour of Zimbabwe. He has returned home after repeated back problems.
Fellow bowlers Geoff Allott, Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns have also been injured.
Wellington wicketkeeper Chris Nevin has suffered the recurrence of a groin injury after being with the side less than a week.
Nash and Vettori's injuries are career-threatening, while Allott is rated a day-to-day proposition by NZC operations manager John Reid.
Today's meeting in Christchurch will review the injury problems, rehabilitation programmes and training schedules.
A big lineup of medical personnel will attend, headed by Christchurch sports doctor Rob Campbell.
"We are very worried about the injury problems," Reid said.
"It is affecting the players, team performance and the workload put on the other players."
An extensive study into Vettori's injury is under way. Reid said diagnosis of the problem was the easy part; finding the reasons to prevent a repeat was harder.
While Vettori's delivery style is being studied, there is also concern about his workload.
"Research has shown that sudden peaks in workload can cause problems and this is one area we are looking into," Reid said.
"We are looking at his workload through the rehabilitation period and also on tour."
All players must follow detailed rehabilitation programmes and once ready for team selection, they undergo stringent fitness tests.
Nevin underwent such a programme after his hernia operation.
His fitness test in Christchurch, before departing for Zimbabwe, included a wicketkeeping workout in the morning and a series of sprints, longer-distance jogging and sharp turns - as when batting - in the afternoon.
Nevin was assessed the next morning and then repeated the workout before receiving the all-clear.
The concern for NZC now is that his injury on tour, though minor, appears to be a repeat.
In the case of Nash and Allott, NZC have been prepared, as long as they are passed fit to tour, to accept that both players are day-to-day propositions and that their back injuries are more or less permanent.
- NZPA
Cricket: Panel to scan ailing Black Caps
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