Colin de Grandhomme ruled out of West Indies Tests

New Zealand were forced to make some late changes to their squad for the first Test match against West Indies, which immediately follows the Twenty20 games, with all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel ruled out through injury.

De Grandhomme has bone bruising in his right foot and been replaced by Daryl Mitchell, while Mitchell Santner has replaced Patel, who is slowly recovering from a torn calf muscle.

“The unavailability of Colin and Ajaz has obviously had a flow on effect to our T20 squad who are providing the replacement players for the test squad,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said in a statement.

“Mitch and Daryl will be available for the final T20 game, before linking up with the test squad on Tuesday where we will monitor them closely to ensure they’re fit and fresh ahead of the first test on Thursday.”

Santner, who is one of the players still in managed isolation, has also been elevated to the captaincy for the final Twenty20 game, with Tim Southee joining the Test squad.

Southee, who took the captaincy in place of the rested Kane Williamson, had only been named for the first two games and Stead said Santner was the natural choice to lead the side.