New Zealand suffered a major blow on Day 1 of the second Test against West Indies in Wellington as fast bowler Blair Tickner was stretched out after dislocating his left shoulder while fielding.
Blair Tickner’s injury update
In its official statement, New Zealand said Tickner “will not bowl or field, and is unlikely to bat” for the remainder of the Test. The final call on his recovery timeline will be made only after consultation with the medical team.
Ticker suffered injury in the final session of play when Tickner made a full-length dive at fine leg in an effort to stop a boundary. He landed awkwardly on his left shoulder and immediately clutched the area in pain, lying motionless as teammates and medical staff rushed to assist. He was stretchered off and taken to a Wellington hospital for scans before being released to rejoin the squad at the ground with his arm in a sling.
Tickner’s impactful bowling performance before injury: 4/32 in the first innings
Before disaster struck, Tickner delivered a superb performance, ripping through the West Indies middle order to finish with 4 for 32, helping bowl the visitors out for 205 after a strong opening partnership. His burst, combined with debutant Michael Rae’s support, sparked a collapse that shifted early momentum New Zealand’s way.
Tickner’s ability to hit the seam and extract bounce made him the standout bowler on a Basin Reserve pitch offering assistance throughout the morning. His removal from the match leaves a sizeable void as the wicket is expected to quicken up on Days 3 and 4.
New Zealand face tactical challenge with reduced bowling options
The Black Caps are already without injured quicks Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke, and losing Tickner mid-match leaves them significantly depleted in the decisive Test of the series.
With Tickner unavailable, New Zealand must now rely heavily on Rae, Jacob Duffy and part-time options to manage workloads across the remaining days. Captain Tom Latham will have to rotate his bowlers carefully to avoid fatigue and maintain pressure, particularly as Basin Reserve conditions begin favouring seamers even more later in the match.
Tickner’s injury also raises concerns for New Zealand’s upcoming home fixtures, with clarity expected only after specialists assess the full extent of the damage.
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