As if to add injury to insult, fears that Kyle Mills' season is over have been confirmed; the key pace bowler to miss the World Cup as he undergoes surgery on his left knee.
Only a matter of hours after New Zealand limped out of the one-day tri-series
in Australia in tentative fashion, a clearly dismayed John Bracewell was announcing the end of Mills' World Cup dream, and the likelihood of not having him back until next February.
"He'll have an operation as soon as possible on a patella tendon," Bracewell said as the team arrived at Auckland airport, fresh from their dysfunctional effort against England at the Gabba.
"It's devastating news, really - both for Kyle and the team, and also for what's been a two-year programme to build him into one of the leading bowlers in world cricket."
Already with 89 ODI wickets after a standout performance at last year's Champions Trophy - where he captured 10 wickets and 11.80 - Mills had been cleared to join the squad at the midway point of the tri-series.
But Bracewell said the transfer from the softer New Zealand grounds to the harder Australian surfaces, combined with the intensity of the tri-series had increased the pain levels to such an extent that Mills had been unable to sleep - even with the help of painkillers.
"It's been a hard decision for him but he says he's only going to let down the team if he tries to struggle through the World Cup and can only play every so often."
Bracewell said he'd be speaking with selection adviser Sir Richard Hadlee about a likely replacement in the squad for the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee series, and the World Cup in the Caribbean.
