Will O'Rourke to miss India series to rehabilitate from hamstring, calf injuries
Will O'Rourke has been out of action since late June with hamstring and calf injuries • NurPhoto via Getty Images
New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke will miss the upcoming home series against India as he continues to rehabilitate following injuries to his left hamstring and calf. O'Rourke is resting as a precautionary measure, with New Zealand keeping one eye on the four-Test tour of Australia in December-January.
"It's obviously disappointing for Will to have to miss such a marquee tour at home against India," New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said. "He was set to feature in both the ODI and Test series, but following subsequent discussions, we all agreed it was best for him to take some more time to rehabilitate both injuries and safely build up his bowling loads.
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"Our pace bowling resources will be critical over the next few months so we're taking a conservative approach to Will's return to ensure he's fully fit before he takes the field again.
"Ideally he'll be able to return for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield in late December, and in a perfect world he'll be ready to go for the opening Test against Australia in Perth on December 9."
The 25-year-old O'Rourke has a recent history pockmarked by injury. He returned to action in April, during New Zealand's white-ball tour of Bangladesh, following seven months out with a back stress fracture. He played all three Tests on the tour of England in June, but suffered a hamstring tear on the final day of the third Test in Nottingham. He hasn't played competitively since then, with his return to action further postponed by a calf strain that he picked up while training in August.
New Zealand are set to announce their squad for the India series on Sunday. The series will begin with five T20Is from October 22 to November 1, which will be followed by five ODIs, from November 4 to 15, and two Tests, from November 19 to 23 in Wellington and from November 27 to December 1 in Christchurch.
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