Earlier this year, the pacer rejoined the Black Caps after a seven-month layoff due to a stress fracture in his back. However, according to the ICC, he sustained a hamstring tear on the final day of the third Test against England—a match New Zealand won to secure the ICC World Test Championship series 2-1. In late August, O’Rourke then suffered a calf strain during a training session.
The multi-format pacer returned to international cricket earlier this year, having been sidelined for seven months due to a stress fracture in his back. However, he subsequently suffered a hamstring tear on the final day of the third Test against England and later strained his calf during a training session in late August.
New Zealand coach Rob Walter stated that the decision to omit O’Rourke from the India series was made in consultation with the player and medical staff, prioritising the team’s upcoming four-Test tour of Australia in December.
Walter said, “It’s obviously disappointing for Will to have to miss such a marquee tour at home against India. He was set to feature in both the ODI and Test series, but following subsequent discussions, we all agreed it was best for him to take some more time to rehabilitate both injuries and safely build up his bowling loads. Our pace bowling resources will be critical over the next few months, so we are taking a conservative approach to Will’s return to ensure he’s fully fit before he takes the field again. Ideally, he will be able to return for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield in late December, and in a perfect world, he will be ready to go for the opening Test against Australia in Perth on December 9.”
New Zealand Cricket has announced that the ODI squad for the upcoming series against India will be revealed on October 10. The multi-format tour begins on October 22 with five T20 Internationals. This will be followed by an ODI series starting on November 4, and the tour will conclude with a two-match World Test Championship series beginning November 19, serving as preparation for next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
