New Zealand have made further changes to their pace-bowling group during the ODI series against India. Kristian Clarke has been brought in as cover ahead of the Hamilton match, while several established fast bowlers remain unavailable or are working towards a later return.
Lockie Ferguson will miss the final two ODIs because he has not fully recovered from the calf problem sustained during the T20I series. His absence is separate from Blair Tickner’s situation after the Wellington ODI.
Tickner’s stand-down period
Tickner was struck on the helmet while batting in the second ODI and was replaced by Matt Fisher. He has been cleared of concussion, but the announced seven-day stand-down period still rules him out of the next two matches.
The clearance and the stand-down are therefore not contradictory statements. One describes the assessment that was reported; the other governs his availability for selection. Clarke’s addition gives the squad another seam-bowling option, rather than automatically naming him in the playing eleven.
Henry and Jamieson stay with the ODI group
Matt Henry is targeting the fourth ODI for his return. Henry and Kyle Jamieson will remain with the limited-overs squad for that game instead of leaving immediately after Hamilton to join Test preparations.
Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith are due to move on to Wellington for the Test build-up. India lead the five-match ODI series 2–0. The squad changes are an availability update; selection of the final eleven remains a separate match-day decision.