Cricket: Redmond a likely spectator against England

Bad weather has delayed Aaron Redmond's flight to South Africa. Photo / Richard Robinson

It seems Aaron Redmond will travel a long way to watch a cricket match.

The Otago opener has been rushed into the New Zealand squad after a groin injury ruled out Jesse Ryder for the remainder of the Champions Trophy one-day tournament in South Africa.

But travel delays mean he is unlikely to play in New Zealand's final group match against England at Centurion tomorrow when a win would catapult them into the semifinals.

Coach Andy Moles today said Redmond was not due to join the team until about seven hours before the match started.

In all likelihood, Ryder's absence would see regular first drop Martin Guptill would be promoted to open, with Neil Broom also shifting up the order and backup wicketkeeper possibly used as a specialist batsman at No 7.

"He will look at how he is when he gets off the flight but it would be a hard ask for him to travel with jet leg then play such a big game," Moles told Radio Sport.

"I suspect it will be too big an ask for him. He would have been flying for over 24 hours because he's been held up by bad weather."

Redmond was in Brisbane with the Otago team when he learned of his selection.

Otago are playing a couple of Twenty20 matches in Queensland en route to the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India.

- NZPA