Cricket: Abdominal strain puts Fleming in doubt for first test

8.10am

Captain Stephen Fleming has been ruled out of the New Zealand cricket team's next match on their tour of England.

Fleming has an abdominal strain which will keep him out of the four-day game against Kent starting on Thursday night.

The injury also places him in doubt for the first test, starting Thursday week.

Black Caps coach John Bracewell says they do not want to risk Fleming in their last warm-up match, with the left-hander having also been troubled by an abdominal strain over the summer.

Bracewell says team management do not want Fleming running between the wickets, and he will have extensive treatment and a schedule of net sessions instead.

Fleming's injury has thrown a spanner in the works of the possible test 12, which at this stage is being tipped to not include Shane Bond.

- Newstalk ZB