Cricket News

Daryl Mitchell gets ruled out of 2nd South Africa Test and Australia T20Is with foot injury

New Zealand cricket fans were dealt with a heavy blow today with the news that star all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa and the […]

Feb 8, 2024 10:47 am

New Zealand cricket fans were dealt with a heavy blow today with the news that star all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the second Test against South Africa and the upcoming T20I series against Australia. The decision, announced by New Zealand Cricket, comes as a precautionary measure to allow Mitchell time to recover from a long-standing foot injury.

Mitchell, who emerged as a crucial cog in the New Zealand batting line-up in recent years but concerns regarding his foot injury, which has bothered him for some time, have prompted the team management to prioritize his long-term fitness. New Zealand’s coach, Gary Stead, while making the announcement, said that although there was no guarantee that the measure would pay dividends, there was hope that it would allow Mitchell to be available for important assignments.

“We took the opportunity to rest him a little earlier but after seeking medical advice on this as well it’s likely that he needs a longer period of time. “It’s really tough, because there’s not a lot breaks coming up in the next wee while so thought this gives us nearly three weeks to try and give him the chance of the best recuperation from it. There’s no guarantees this will still work in that period of time but we are very hopeful that it will improve his chances of getting through a longer stint with us,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.

The exact nature of Mitchell’s injury hasn’t been disclosed, but reports suggest it’s a recurring issue that requires careful management. While his absence is undoubtedly a setback for the Black Caps, especially considering his form and versatility, they have adequate cover.

Will Yong likely to replace Daryll Mitchell

The Kiwis have not named a replacement for Mitchell in the Test squad considering that they already have a spare batter in Will Young. Young is now expected to slot into the playing 11 as a direct replacement. Young, 31, has played 13 Tests without too much success and will thus be looking to make it count this time around.

Mitchell’s absence will also be felt in the upcoming T20I series against Australia, which serves as crucial preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year. However, that will also give the hosts to have a look at some of the other players and bolster their bench strength.