New Zealand suffered a major blow ahead of Day 2 of the second Test in Wellington as pacer Blair Tickner has been ruled out of bowling and fielding for the remainder of the match. The update was confirmed by New Zealand Cricket on Thursday, December 11. Tickner is also unlikely to bat after dislocating his left shoulder while diving to stop a boundary on Day 1 at the Basin Reserve.

Tickner, who left the field in visible pain on Wednesday and was taken to hospital after stumps, was present at the ground on Thursday but is awaiting further specialist assessment to determine his return-to-play plan.

Before the injury setback, Tickner was New Zealand’s best bowler on the opening day, picking up four wickets as the depleted Kiwi attack bowled West Indies out for 204 after opting to bowl first on a green-tinged Wellington surface. Debutant Michael Rae claimed three wickets, while the remaining breakthroughs were shared by Jacob Duffy and part-time options.

New Zealand entered the Test already without several frontline names — Will O’Rourke, Matt Henry, Tom Blundell and Mitchell Santner — and had drafted reinforcements to cover the gaps. Tickner’s absence now places additional responsibility on Rae, Duffy, Zak Foulkes, and the part-time spin/medium-pace options of Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell.

Early signs suggest the Basin Reserve pitch may behave similarly to Christchurch — offering help for bowlers in the first two innings before easing out. With New Zealand reduced to a second-string attack and now a bowler short, West Indies will look to capitalise as conditions gradually improve for batting.

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