Mumbai: Leg-spinner Todd Astle’s hopes of trying out his wares against top-class Indian batsmen received a big blow when he was ruled out of the six-match ODI and Twenty20 series following a groin strain suffered during the first warm-up game against Board President’s XI at the Brabourne Stadium here on Tuesday.
Medical investigation confirmed that he had suffered a tear on the right side of the groin and cannot play for three weeks.
New Zealand selectors have replaced Astle with tweaker Inderbir Singh ‘Ish’ Sodhi, who was earlier chosen only for the three-match T20 series. The 24-year-old Ludhiana-born has played 18 ODIs, taking 19 wickets at 40.68. He has also played 12 T2Is and taken 21 wickets at 14.48.
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New Zealand coach Mike Hesson told NZ Cricket website: “It was cruel timing for Astle. Todd was really impressive in the recent New Zealand ‘A’ tour over here and had done everything he possibly could to get himself ready for this series. He deserved this opportunity and everyone in the team is certainly feeling for Todd. He’ll return to New Zealand and get himself ready for a big summer.”