A broken thumb has put fast bowler Matt Henry in doubt for the upcoming series against West Indies starting next month.
The 28-year-old suffered the injury after taking a blow to his hand while batting in the nets for domestic club Canterbury and could be sidelined now for up to six weeks.
West Indies left the Caribbean Tuesday for the November 27 to December 15 tour, comprising three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests.
“Matt was unfortunately stuck on the tip of the right thumb while batting in the nets,” Canterbury physio Tim Dovbysh said.
“Matt got an X-ray [done] immediately after training, which confirmed the fracture. He’ll need a temporary rest from bowling but will still add value to the team at training and will start bowling when able.”
This year, the injury is the second for Henry, who also broke this thumb last January in the third Test against Australia in Sydney.
Henry has been a fixture in the Black Caps One-Day International squad over the last year but has also been featured recently in the longest format.
On the Caribbean side’s last tour of New Zealand in 2017, Henry snatched three wickets in the second innings of the third Test in Hamilton, which the hosts won convincingly by an innings and 67 runs.
All told, Henry has claimed 30 wickets from 12 Tests, and 92 wickets from 52 ODIs.
His injury comes on the heels of captain Kane Williamson’s adductor injury, which he picked up in the ongoing Indian Premier League, and injuries also to BJ Watling, Ajaz Patel, and Henry Nicholls.
All are expected to recover in time for the West Indies tour.
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