Key players sidelined as New Zealand face injury concerns

New Zealand have some major injury concerns ahead of a busy home summer, with a quartet of players facing time on the sidelines.

Pacer Will O'Rourke (back), all-rounder Glenn Phillips (groin), batter Finn Allen (foot) and white-ball skipper Mitchell Santner (groin) are all battling various ailments and are likely to miss upcoming visits from Australia, England and the West Indies later this year.

O'Rourke's back injury is the most serious of the quartet, with the right-armer set to be out of action for at least three months after scans revealed he had a stress fracture in his lower back.

The 24-year-old was sent home when he picked up the injury during the first Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month and subsequent assessment showed he will miss white-ball series against Australia (October 1 - 4), England (October 18 - 1 November) and the West Indies (November 5-22).

“We’re really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him speedy recovery,” New Zealand coach Rob Walter said.

“He’s had such an impressive start to his career and so naturally it is disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he’s a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger.”

Phillips has been ruled out of the series at home against Australia and will be re-assessed in a month's time to work out a potential return date, while Allen faces three months out of action as he continues to recover from surgery on his foot.

Santner is booked in for abdominal surgery and faces at least one month on the sidelines, with Walter hoping his captain will be fit to face Australia in the three-match T20I series that commences on October 1.

“Mitch is a world class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view,” Walter said.

“With that in mind we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks' time, and from there we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series.

“It’s disappointing to lose the services of Glenn and Finn who have played important batting roles in our T20 set up in recent times.

“Like in Zimbabwe, their unavailability will present opportunities for others to put their hands up in what’s going to be a hugely exciting and important series against Australia.”

New Zealand men's fixtures

Against Australia
Oct 1 - 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui
Oct 3 - 2nd T20I, Mount Maunganui
Oct 4 - 3rd T20I, Mount Maunganui

Against England
Oct 18 - 1st T20I, Christchurch
Oct 20 - 2nd T20I, Christchurch
Oct 23 - 3rd T20I, Auckland
Oct 26 - 1st ODI, Mount Maunganui
Oct 29 - 2nd ODI, Hamilton
Nov 1 - 3rd ODI, Wellington

Against West Indies
Nov 5 - 1st T20I, Auckland
Nov 6 - 2nd T20I, Auckland
Nov 9 - 3rd T20I, Nelson
Nov 10 - 4th T20I, Nelson
Nov 13 - 5th T20I, Dunedin
Nov 16 - 1st ODI, Christchurch
Nov 19 - 2nd ODI, Napier
Nov 22 - 3rd ODI, Hamilton
Dec 2-6 - 1st Test, Christchurch
Dec 10-14 - 2nd Test, Wellington
Dec 18-22 - 3rd Test, Mount Maunganui

Against South Africa
Mar 15 - 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui
Mar 17 - 2nd T20I, Hamilton
Mar 20 - 3rd T20I, Auckland
Mar 22 - 4th T20I, Wellington
Mar 25 - 5th T20I, Christchurch