New Zealand's ICC CWC chances have suffered a potentially crippling blow, with opening batsman Lou Vincent ruled out of the tournament with a broken wrist.
Vincent sustained the injury yesterday after being struck on the left arm by pace bowler Shane Bond early in the Black Caps' first net session in Antigua ahead of their opening Super Eights game with West Indies on Thursday.
Vincent reeled away in agony before complaining of dizziness and nausea.
Bond, clearly distressed after hospitalising a second teammate since arriving in the Caribbean, cut a dispirited figure at the top of his run-up as Vincent had ice packs applied to his arm and head before he was taken to hospital to have his worst fears confirmed. "I think he knew the moment he got hit, it's a clean break" said New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker.
"It's one of those things. It wasn't a dangerous ball, just an error of judgment. Everyone is disappointed, particularly Bondy."
Vincent joins Craig McMillan as a target of Bond's 'friendly fire', though his misfortune has far wider ramifications than the burly all rounder's bruised big toe, courtesy of a pinpoint yorker during the lead-up to New Zealand's pivotal six-wicket defeat of England on March 16.
For the second time in four days New Zealand Cricket will have to seek International Cricket Council (ICC) dispensation to draft in a replacement player - possibly the out-of-favour Hamish Marshall or specialist opener Michael Papps.
A replacement could be named later today.
The subject of New Zealand's first appeal to the ICC's technical committee, pace bowler Chris Martin, joined the team yesterday for Daryl Tuffey - who headed home today for further treatment on a torn biceps sustained during his solitary outing against Canada last Thursday.
Vincent sustained the injury yesterday after being struck on the left arm by pace bowler Shane Bond early in the Black Caps' first net session in Antigua ahead of their opening Super Eights game with West Indies on Thursday.
Vincent reeled away in agony before complaining of dizziness and nausea.
Bond, clearly distressed after hospitalising a second teammate since arriving in the Caribbean, cut a dispirited figure at the top of his run-up as Vincent had ice packs applied to his arm and head before he was taken to hospital to have his worst fears confirmed. "I think he knew the moment he got hit, it's a clean break" said New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker.
"It's one of those things. It wasn't a dangerous ball, just an error of judgment. Everyone is disappointed, particularly Bondy."
Vincent joins Craig McMillan as a target of Bond's 'friendly fire', though his misfortune has far wider ramifications than the burly all rounder's bruised big toe, courtesy of a pinpoint yorker during the lead-up to New Zealand's pivotal six-wicket defeat of England on March 16.
For the second time in four days New Zealand Cricket will have to seek International Cricket Council (ICC) dispensation to draft in a replacement player - possibly the out-of-favour Hamish Marshall or specialist opener Michael Papps.
A replacement could be named later today.
The subject of New Zealand's first appeal to the ICC's technical committee, pace bowler Chris Martin, joined the team yesterday for Daryl Tuffey - who headed home today for further treatment on a torn biceps sustained during his solitary outing against Canada last Thursday.
