New Zealand will be without injured pace bowler Kyle Jamieson for the third and final Test against England, adding to their gloom after conceding the series in Nottingham on Tuesday. Soon after losing the second Test at Trent Bridge by five wickets, handing England an unassailable 2-0 lead, Black Caps management confirmed Jamieson will return home after a scan revealed a stress reaction in his lower back, suffered while bowling on the third day.
Coach Gary Stead estimated Jamieson will require four to six weeks of rest before beginning a rehabilitation programme, which will target a return to play in September or October.
Pace bowler Blair Tickner, who was with the squad for their early tour games, has been recalled and will arrive in Leeds prior to the third Test starting on Thursday next week.
The departure of Jamieson is a major blow to the tourists’ hopes of salvaging series pride at Headingley, with the towering seamer having burst onto the scene last year and taken 72 wickets in his first 16 Tests.
He bowled sharply in the first Test loss at Lord’s, lodging match figures of six wickets for 99 runs.
