NZ vs WI: Blair Tickner Stretchered Off Field Amid Shoulder Injury Concerns During Second New Zealand-West Indies Test

NZ vs WI 2nd Test: New Zealand quick Blair Tickner, making his first Test appearance since 2023, starred with the ball on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies before being stretchered off the field with a shoulder concern.

Tickner, who made the Windies batters dance on his tune, dived at full-stretch to stop a boundary at fine-leg but slammed into the turf and went down clutching his shoulder.

The pacer, who took a four-wicket haul at Basin Reserve, failed to get back on his feet, prompting swift action by Blackcaps' medical personnel and venue staff. As the quick was stretchered off, he received applause from the home crowd.

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Tickner was included in the squad due to injuries to fellow pacemans Matt Henry and Nathan Smith. His injury extended the long list of sidelined New Zealand pacers for the series: Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, and Matt Fisher.

Henry (calf tear) and Smith (side strain) sustained their injuries during the drawn first Test in Christchurch, while Santner (groin) was ruled out before the match. 

New Zealand called in five modifications to their Playing XI for the second Test, with Mitchell Hay and Michael Rae making their Test debuts.

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Riding on Tickner's 4-32 and Rae's 3-66, New Zealand bowled out the West Indies at 205 after 75 overs in their first innings. New Zealand ended the day at 24 for no loss.

(With IANS Inputs)