New setback for New Zealand as pacer suffers shoulder injury
Blair Tickner, who was playing his first Test in close on to two years, starred with the ball before departing the action with a hurt shoulder
Fresh blow for the Black Caps’ pace attack
New Zealand’s injury-hit fast-bowling group took another blow when Blair Tickner, back in the Test side after a long absence, hurt his shoulder on day one of the second Test against the West Indies in Wellington. The incident happened in the final session, with what had otherwise been a promising return turning into a worrying moment for the hosts.
Tickner had earlier bowled an impressive spell, returning figures of 4 for 32 from 16 overs to give New Zealand crucial breakthroughs at various times. His disciplined bowling helped the Black Caps keep the West Indies to a manageable total of 205. However, the momentum turned when he made a full-length dive at fine-leg to save a boundary and landed heavily, immediately displaying signs of discomfort before medical staff attended to him.
The injury has come at a very bad time for New Zealand, who are already managing with the unavailability of many of their frontline quicks. Tickner came into the XI because of various unavailability issues to Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears, and Matt Fisher. Losing him now would thin out an already stretched lineup and force New Zealand to reshuffle their attack once again.
The timing of Tickner’s injury, with major fixtures ahead including preparation phases leading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, only raises concerns for the coaching staff. New Zealand could now be without a third key fast bowler for an important Test series, piling extra pressure on the remaining seamers to carry workload and ensure that balance within the squad is maintained.
