CANBERRA -New Zealand have suffered dual injury scares to opening batsmen Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder at their first cricket training session in Australia today.
McCullum limped away from the Manuka Oval nets with a sore left hip while Ryder aggravated a left shoulder injury during fielding andbatting practice ahead of their tour opener against the Prime Minister's 11 here tomorrow.
Team manager Lindsay Crocker told NZPA McCullum had responded well to initial treatment and might play tomorrow as a batsman only, while Ryder was "highly unlikely" to play tomorrow.
He was also receiving treatment and it was too early to judge the extent of the injury.
Crocker said wicketkeeping cover would likely be flown in from New Zealand ahead of the opening Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match in Perth on Sunday.
"We'll see how Brendon is tomorrow but the logical thing would be to cover off the wicketkeeping position for Perth," Crocker said.
Complicating matters was the fact that Ryder was the designated wicketkeeping cover for the series.
Chairman of selectors Glenn Turner and his panel were discussing the issue this afternoon, with Gareth Hopkins appearing the obvious replacement.
McCullum suffered his injury while batting and exited the nets pointing to his left hip which was causing him discomfort in the nets.
Ryder had previously suffered an injury niggle to the rotator cuff in his left shoulder but appeared to have recovered before the team crossed the Tasman, Crocker said.
The absence of either would be a further blow to an inexperienced New Zealand side's chances in the five-match series, as they are already without key allrounder Jacob Oram due to injury.
