New Zealand’s Injury Crisis Deepens as Blair Tickner Suffers Shoulder Blow in Second Test

New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner was stretchered off the field with a left shoulder injury on the opening day of the second Test against the West Indies in Wellington, worsening an already severe injury crisis for the home side.

Tickner, playing his first Test since early 2023, had been the standout performer for New Zealand, taking 4 wickets for 32 runs to help bowl the West Indies out for 205. 

His spell included the key wickets of Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, and captain Roston Chase, putting New Zealand in a strong position. However, in the 67th over, while diving at full stretch to save a boundary at fine leg, he fell awkwardly and remained on the ground clutching his shoulder.

Medical staff from both the New Zealand camp and the venue treated him on the boundary before he was carried off sitting upright to warm applause from the Basin Reserve crowd. He was then transported to a local hospital for further assessment. 

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed in a statement: “He left the field with a left shoulder injury and was transported to hospital shortly afterwards. Once the medical team and local doctors have done their work with him an update will be fed back.”

The injury compounds a dire situation for New Zealand’s fast-bowling resources. Tickner had only been called into the side after injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith during the first Test in Christchurch, which also saw wicketkeeper Tom Blundell ruled out. He now joins a growing list of sidelined seamers that includes Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke, and Matt Fisher, all unavailable for this series.

This is the second consecutive Test where New Zealand has lost a fast bowler mid-match, after similar injuries in Christchurch hampered their ability to force a result and allowed the West Indies to secure a draw. The team now faces the prospect of finishing this Test, and potentially the next in Mount Maunganui, with a severely depleted attack.

Should Tickner be unavailable, the bowling duties will fall to an inexperienced seam unit of Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, and debutant Michael Rae, who supported Tickner with three wickets on the first day. Notably, New Zealand’s top two wicket-takers in the series so far are part-time bowlers Glenn Phillips and Kane Williamson, underscoring the strain on the specialist bowlers.

The timing is particularly concerning with a major year ahead in 2026, including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. For now, New Zealand closed the day at 24 without loss, but the mood at the Basin Reserve was dampened by the sight of another key player being helped from the field.