New Zealand pacer Matt Henry to miss West Indies T20Is due to injury

Wellington:New Zealand speedster Matt Henry will miss T20I series against West Indies starting next month due to injury.

Henry was sidelined from Canterbury's Plunket Shield game after recieving a blow to his thumb while in the nets while batting. He is expected to take four to six weeks to heal, raising doubts over his participation for the home series against West Indies that begins on November 27.

"Matt was unfortunately struck on the tip of the right thumb while batting in the nets," Canterbury physio Tim Dovbysh said. "Matt got an X-ray [done] immediately after training which confirmed the fracture. He'll need a temporary rest from bowling but will still add value to the team at training and will start bowling when able."

Earlier in the year, Henry broke his left thumb during the opening day of the third Test in Sydney. This injury comes at an unfortunate time with New Zealand having a busy summer scheduled after an extended break. Henry has also been in good form recently, having taken a four-wicket haul to help Canterbury bowl Wellington out for 65 in the first innings last week.

The Black Caps begin their home season with a three-match T20I series against West Indies. Post the T20I series, the two teams will also play two Tests as part of the ICC World Test Championship.

New Zealand are also scheduled to play Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh in a jam-packed home season as cricket in the country returns to normalcy. The first 

round of Plunket Shield matches began on 19 October.

Plagued by several injury concerns Black Caps international players BJ Watling, Ajaz Patel and Henry Nicholls missed the first round of Shield games while skipper Kane Williamson, who is currently at the Indian Premier League in the UAE, is recovering from an adductor injury.

While Watling, Ajaz, Nicholls and Williamson are expected to be fit before the West Indies home series, Henry's case is doubtful given his expected recovery period.(UNI)