The struggling Blackcaps bowling attack won't be bolstered by Kyle Jamieson for the second test against England - or any time soon - with confirmation the seamer faces back surgery.
The Aucklander was poised to make his return from a lengthy layoff for the first test at Mt Maunganui, which ended in a resounding win for the tourists.
Coach Gary Stead had hoped to have Jamieson, 28, back for the second test at Wellington, starting Friday. Instead ,he will go under the knife to remedy a confirmed stress fracture.
The procedure will keep Jamieson off the pitch for at least four months, a cruel blow that will see his absence from international cricket stretch beyond a year, ruling him out for the remainder of the home season.
The towering quick hasn't featured for New Zealand since he first injured his back during the tour of England last June.
"Kyle has seen a back surgeon and is getting surgery later in the week," said Stead.
"It's been a challenging and difficult time for Kyle, and a big loss for us. He has been fantastic, when he has been around all of our sides, when he has been part of them, so we just wish him well.
"We will know more in about 3-4 months about what that end prognosis looks like for him.
"Surgery provides a quicker return to play and that’s the encouraging thing for him. We want to give him the best chance of recovery, because we know what a star he has been for us."
Jamieson's continued unavailability will be tough to swallow for the NZ attack, which had few answers for the ultra-aggressive English batters at Bay Oval.
Fast bowler Matt Henry will provide some relief, rejoining the squad after the birth of his first child. He'll replace Jacob Duffy, who joins Ish Sodhi in being released from the now 13-strong group.
Stead admits his team were thoroughly outplayed at the Mount, where England made hay when the sun wasn't shining with the pink ball, expertly using conditions to their favour.
Returning to the relative familiarity of the Basin Reserve and a red ball may offer some reprieve, Stead suggests, although he concedes the main priority is finding a way to stem the tide of British runs.
"We are obviously disappointed that we didn’t get the result that we are seeking," Stead said. "The way England are playing isn't a surprise to us at all, but they are playing very, very well.
"For us, it's finding ways now that we can counter that and, I guess, try and slow them down in the pace they are playing the game.
"We want to get to the Basin and play our style of cricket, and hopefully put some pressure back on England.
"They are on a bit of a roll and playing with some real confidence."
That confidence is what he feels his side are somewhat missing, after losing a fourth consecutive test against an English team transformed under Kiwi coach Brendon McCullum.
"I don't think it’s unfair to say we are lacking a bit of that confidence at the moment, but I can assure you, the faith is still with this group of guys," he said.
"We believe these are our best cricketers. We won't make wholesale or snappy changes, when all of our top order struggled.
"We want to go out and throw some punches back at England, and I thought through this [first] test we did that really, really well at times."
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