New Zealand’s Test squad has been dealt a late blow ahead of the second and final fixture of their Zimbabwe tour, with all-rounder Nathan Smith ruled out of the match following an abdominal strain. The injury occurred whilst he was batting in the first Test in Bulawayo, where he retired hurt on Day 2 after hitting 22 runs, and an MRI subsequently confirmed a strain that could put him out for up to four weeks.
This meant that New Zealand Cricket could call-up Zakary Foulkes- a young developing pace-bowling all-rounder- who is playing his first Test after freshening up from the T20I triangular series with Zimbabwe and South Africa where he starred in New Zealand’s dramatic final win against the Proteas in Harare.
Along with Foulkes, left-arm paceman Ben Lister has also been added to the squad as late cover for fast bowler Will O’Rourke, who flagged back stiffness late in the first Test. Lister is uncapped in Tests but has played limited overs cricket for New Zealand, enabling depth in pace for the touring side. Smith’s early contribution in the first Test was impactful – he took 3 for 20 in Zimbabwe’s first innings, helping keep the hosts to 149 in 60 overs. In his innings, he evidence felt some discomfort and retired hurt after playing patiently for 79 balls, and didn’t return with bat or ball thereafter.
As a 24-year-old, Foulkes can call on modest but optimistic first-class experience: 19 matches, 57 wickets and 544 runs at an average of approximately 19.4. He holds two five-wicket hauls with the ball. He is likely to provide lower-order resistance and depth for the Blackcaps in red-ball cricket with the bat.
Having won the first Test by nine wickets in fewer than three days and led by pace prodigy Matt Henry, New Zealand put themselves 1-0 up in the two-match series.
The second Test is set to start on August 7 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. In the meantime, selectors and fans will have their eyes peeled to see if the opportunistic Foulkes can take the chance on debut and help the Blackcaps finish the series off, as well as how O’Rourke’s fitness shapes up ahead of the event. New Zealand’s fast-bowling depth will now face its first real test on tour, after already making some changes to the squad and with Smith missing.
