Legspinner Ish Sodhi and pace bowler Blair Tickner have been called back into New Zealand’s one-day squad for their final clash with India on Tuesday after illness swept through the team at the weekend.
Sodhi and Tickner had been released to play for New Zealand A’ against India A’ in a four-day game in Christchurch but were recalled with Scott Kuggeleijn suffering from a virus, while Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner had gastroenteritis.
Kuggeleijn and Santner were both ruled out of the second match in Auckland last Saturday, although Kuggeleijn did end up as a substitute fielder temporarily in the 22-run win that sealed the three-match series with a game to spare.
Southee, who temporarily left the field at Eden Park to be sick, bowled out his full complement of 10 overs, taking 2-41 and earning plaudits from his team and commentators before he left the field again permanently.
For him to do that, it just shows how much wearing the silver fern on his chest means to him, fellow pace bowler Hamish Bennett said at the weekend of Southee’s efforts, which included bowling India captain Virat Kohli.
He’s a good leader in our side and his actions have a lot to do with that. He led by example, to show that no matter what the situation is, you’ve just got to go out there and get the job done.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who has missed the first two games of the one-day series with a shoulder injury, is to have a fitness test at Bay Oval later on Monday.
