Trent Boult to miss Sydney Test with fracture

Boult, according to New Zealand Cricket, suffered a “fracture to the second-metacarpal of his right hand” during his 13-ball 8 in the New Zealand first innings. He was struck on the gloves by Mitchell Starc, and according to an ESPNCricinfo report, went to the hospital for scans during the tea break.

He will return home after the second Test, and his rehabilitation will take “around four weeks”, according to NZC. A replacement will be named in due course.

The injury comes as a big blow to New Zealand. Boult’s returns in the Test haven’t been great – so far, he has taken 1 wicket for 121 runs in 40 overs across two innings – but with Lockie Ferguson also injured during the first Test, New Zealand are losing their best pacers.

Boult didn’t play the first Test, a pink-ball affair in Perth, with his recovery still ongoing after suffering a side strain suffered during the first Test against England in November – Boult himself had decided he wasn’t ready for the Test.

It is now unclear whether he will bowl in the remainder of the Boxing Day Test. He did send down nine overs in Australia’s second innings, despite fracturing his finger in the morning.

It’s the latest sorry turn for New Zealand in a dire tour of Australia. Having lost the first Test by a heavy 296 runs, they’re trailing Australia by 456 runs in Melbourne, with that figure only likely to get bigger given Australia still have six wickets to go in their second innings.

Off-spinner Will Somerville has been called up to the squad as Boult's replacement.