The Blackcaps have been dealt another blow ahead of the upcoming one-day international World Cup, with news allrounder Michael Bracewell will be sidelined for up to eight months with injury.
The reigning men's ODI player of the year has ruptured his right achilles while batting for Worcestershire Rapids in the English domestic Twenty20 competition.
On Thursday, he'll undergo surgery in the UK before beginning a lengthy rehabilitation that will rule him out of the World Cup in India, which starts in October.
Bracewell's absence compounds the Blackcaps injury woes, with captain Kane Williamson also unlikely to be available for the tournament due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury suffered during the Indian Premier League.
Blackcaps coach Gary Stead said Bracewell and his ability to impact the game with both bat and ball would be sorely missed at the pinnacle event.
"Michael's a great team man and has had a fantastic 18 months for the Blackcaps," said Stead.
"We've seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game and he was shaping as an important player for us at the World Cup in India.
"Michael's naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation."
After being out of the country since April on IPL duty, Bracewell will return to New Zealand two weeks after undergoing surgery.
The Blackcaps will hold simultaneous winter training camps at Lincoln and Tauranga from July 26-28 and August 9-11, before heading to England in late August to play out a schedule of four T20 and four ODIs against the hosts.
