[www.inewsguyana.com] – Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the opening test against West Indies, in Dunedin, meaning a recall for Aaron Redmond after a gap of five years.
There had been positive vibes that Williamson would have recovered sufficiently from the broken thumb he sustained in Bangladesh – Bruce Edgar, the national selector, said he was at 95 percent last week but it has been decided that it is not a risk worth taking at the start of a long home season.
Williamson batted in the nets without too much discomfort on Sunday, but following a fielding stint, his thumb began to stiffen up.
It means that Redmond will add to his seven test caps, the previous of which came against Australia at Adelaide in 2008.
He was the leading Plunket Shield run-scorer last season with 941 runs at 55.35, and was touted as an option for New Zealand when Peter Fulton was recalled to face England.
This season he has begun in similarly healthy manner with 271 runs at 67.75 from two matches which again put him top of the list.
Captain Brendon Mccullum was also feeling more positive about himself, although conceded his back remained stiff.
