New Zealand have suffered another injury setback ahead of their five-match One-Day International (ODI) series against India, with opening batter Devon Conway ruled out of Wednesday’s first match following a collision with teammate Matt Henry during a training session at Eden Park in Auckland.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when Conway and fast bowler Henry collided while attempting to catch an aerial ball during fielding practice. Both players received immediate medical attention from the team’s medical staff and underwent head injury assessments.
Conway was subsequently taken to a hospital for further examination, where doctors confirmed that he had suffered a concussion. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that the injury would rule him out of the series opener against India on November 4.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner described the incident as an unfortunate accident and expressed concern over Conway’s condition. He indicated that wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert was likely to replace Conway in the playing XI. Santner also said Henry appeared to be doing well following his assessment, although his availability would continue to be monitored.
New Zealand Cricket stated that both players would remain under medical observation, with further updates on their participation in the remaining matches to be provided in due course.
Conway’s absence adds to New Zealand’s growing injury concerns ahead of the ODI series. Senior batter Mark Chapman is recovering from a hamstring injury, while all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is dealing with a shoulder problem. Both players have already been ruled out of the series.
The first ODI will be played at Eden Park on November 4, with the second and third matches scheduled for November 7 and 10 in Wellington and Hamilton, respectively. The final two matches will take place in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15.
India enter the ODI series after winning the recently concluded five-match T20I series 3-2. New Zealand, however, will be looking to carry the momentum from their victories in the final two T20 matches into the 50-over format.
The injury setback comes at an important stage for New Zealand as both teams look to strengthen their combinations and prepare for future international assignments.
