New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke. File.
| Photo Credit: AFP

New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke has been ruled out of the second cricket test against Australia with a hamstring strain.

Ben Sears, who has played 13 Twenty20 internationals for New Zealand but is uncapped in tests, has been called into the squad and is likely to play in the match which starts Friday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

In other injury news, opener Devon Conway will undergo surgery after damaging his left thumb during the T20 series against Australia, which will lengthen his absence from the New Zealand team to at least eight weeks.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead said O’Rourke will be out for up to four weeks and said Sears had impressed.

“Ben’s a young bowler with a quality skill set,” Stead said. “He bowls with genuine pace and gets good bounce which is always a great asset in red ball cricket.

“We’ve been really impressed by his performances for the Black Caps in white ball cricket this summer and believe he can make the step up to the test arena if called upon.”

Stead said the New Zealand selectors had not considered recalling Neil Wagner, the veteran seamer who retired from test cricket last week after missing selection for the first test.

“We reconsider a number of things,” Stead said. “But we thought in this case that the pace of Ben Sears and what he’s brought to us in international cricket so far is the difference that we needed.”

Australia leads the two-test series 1-0 after winning the opener at the Basin Reserve by 172 runs.

The hard-working and durable New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner has announced his retirement from test cricket at 37. File
| Photo Credit: AP

An emotional Neil Wagner announced his retirement from international cricket on February 27, after the fast bowler was left out of New Zealand’s team for the first Test against Australia this week.

Wagner fought back tears as he told reporters he had decided to call time on a 64-Test career after New Zealand Cricket said he would not be in the side for Thursday’s match in Wellington.

“It’s never an easy time to do something like this, but the time has obviously come,” said the 37-year-old Wagner, who has taken 260 Test wickets.

“It’s been amazing to represent the Black Caps. It’s been some of the proudest moments of my life.

Fiery short-ball specialist Wagner said he would leave the squad before the start of next week’s second Test in Christchurch.

“I’m looking forward to one final week in camp and will be doing everything I can to help prepare and support the boys,” he said.

Wagner cited last year’s one-run victory over England in Wellington, where he took the last wicket to draw the series, as among his career highlights along with winning the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.

“I’ve enjoyed every single moment of playing test cricket for the Black Caps and am proud of everything we’ve been able to achieve as a team,” he said.

Wagner made his New Zealand debut in 2012 after arriving from his native South Africa four years earlier.

“To the New Zealand public and the fans, I can’t thank you enough, for your support, for making me feel welcome, for making me feel like a Kiwi,” said Wagner.

Only Richard Hadlee, current captain Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori and Trent Boult have taken more Test wickets for New Zealand than Wagner.

New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said on Tuesday that Wagner was “one of the greats”.

“He has been through an incredible era and been a huge cog of the bowling attack over the years.

“We’ll remember his lion-heartedness, the way he just kept finding a way to make something happen.”