Cricket: Blackcaps star Daryl Mitchell out of action with injury for extended spell

The Blackcaps will be without the services of star allrounder Daryl Mitchell for the second test against South Africa and the Twenty20 international series against Australia.

Mitchell will be sidelined to give his ongoing foot injury an extended period of rest and recovery with an eye to the two-test series against the Aussies, which starts in Wellington on February 29.

Canterbury bowler Will O’Rourke will join the squad in Hamilton as planned, but Mitchell’s withdrawal means all remaining members of the squad for the first test at Bay Oval will now travel to Hamilton.

Blackcaps coach Gary Stead stressed the importance of taking a long-term approach with such a critical component of the side.

"Daryl is a hugely important member of the squad in all three formats and ensuring he is in the best shape is vital with the period of matches to come," said Stead.

"Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation."

Mitchell has been one of the Blackcaps' premier performers across all formats over the past two years. His spectacular run at last year's World Cup in India - where he finished the tournament's fifth highest scorer with 552 runs and two centuries - propelled him to a lucrative IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings.

Last month, he combined with Glenn Phillips for an unbroken 139-run stand in the fourth T20 win over Pakistan - the highest fourth-wicket partnership in NZ T20I history.

The second test against the Proteas begins at Seddon Park on Tuesday.

More to come

The Blackcaps will be without the services of star allrounder Daryl Mitchell for the second test against South Africa and the Twenty20 international series against Australia.

Mitchell will be sidelined to give his ongoing foot injury an extended period of rest and recovery with an eye to the two-test series against the Aussies, which starts in Wellington on February 29.

Canterbury bowler Will O’Rourke will join the squad in Hamilton as planned, but Mitchell’s withdrawal means all remaining members of the squad for the first test at Bay Oval will now travel to Hamilton.

Blackcaps coach Gary Stead stressed the importance of taking a long-term approach with such a critical component of the side.

"Daryl is a hugely important member of the squad in all three formats and ensuring he is in the best shape is vital with the period of matches to come," said Stead.

"Based on the schedule ahead, we feel now is an appropriate time for Daryl to complete a period of rehabilitation."

Mitchell has been one of the Blackcaps' premier performers across all formats over the past two years. His spectacular run at last year's World Cup in India - where he finished the tournament's fifth highest scorer with 552 runs and two centuries - propelled him to a lucrative IPL contract with Chennai Super Kings.

Last month, he combined with Glenn Phillips for an unbroken 139-run stand in the fourth T20 win over Pakistan - the highest fourth-wicket partnership in NZ T20I history.

The second test against the Proteas begins at Seddon Park on Tuesday.

More to come

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