New Zealand's Will O'Rourke Ruled Out Of Second Test Against Zimbabwe
Will O'Rourke is out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to a back injury with Ben Lister expected to make debut.
New Zealand faces another injury setback as pace bowler Will O'Rourke has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to a back injury, New Zealand Cricket announced on Wednesday.
O'Rourke experienced back stiffness on day three of New Zealand's nine-wicket victory in the first Test last week, after securing three wickets for 28 runs from his 10 overs in the second innings.
NZC stated that O'Rourke has been sent home for further assessment. Left-arm seamer Ben Lister, initially called in to provide additional pace-bowling support, will stay with the squad for the series and may be in line for a Test debut in the second and final Test starting on Thursday.
O'Rourke is the second pace bowler to miss the second Test due to injury, following all-rounder Nathan Smith, who sustained an abdominal strain while batting on day two of the first Test in Bulawayo. An MRI confirmed the injury, requiring approximately two to four weeks of recovery.
Earlier, Test captain Tom Latham was ruled out of the first Test with a shoulder injury but remained with the squad in hopes of being fit for the second Test.
White-ball captain Mitch Santner led the team in the first Test, becoming New Zealand's 32nd men's Test captain.
Ahead of the Zimbabwe tour, batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips withdrew from the tour after injuring his right groin during the Major League Cricket final. Bracewell, who was initially unavailable due to commitments with The Hundred, replaced Phillips in the squad.
Will O'Rourke is a towering New Zealand fast bowler who has made an explosive entry into international cricket. Born in London in 2001 to a cricket-loving family, he moved to New Zealand at age five and quickly established himself as a pace bowling prospect. The 23-year-old Canterbury player generates exceptional bounce from his tall frame, regularly bowling at speeds up to 150 km/h.
O'Rourke's international debut was nothing short of spectacular – he became the first England-born player to represent New Zealand since the 1990s, then announced his arrival in Test cricket with a stunning nine-wicket haul on debut against South Africa in February 2024, recording the best match figures by a New Zealander on Test debut. His bowling style draws comparisons to Kyle Jamieson, and he continues to develop under the guidance of New Zealand's premier fast bowlers.
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