New Zealand‘s build-up to the home summer has taken a hit with injuries ruling out Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen from next month’s Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20I series against Australia at Bay Oval.
New Zealand are in the middle of a major injury crisis ahead of their long home season as Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Will O’Rourke and Finn Allen are nursing various ailments. The Blackcaps New Zealand will host Australia, England and West Indies for multi-format series beginning from October 1, followed by a T20I series against South Africa in March 2026.
However, they’re likely to miss most of their first-choice players due to an injury crisis in the team. Fast bowler Will O’Rourke has been ruled out of action for three months after scans revealed that he has a stress fracture in his lower back, informed New Zealand Cricket in a media release.
Mitchell Santner, Phillips, Will O’ Rourke among big names injured for New Zealand ahead of Australia series in Oct 2025
New Zealand’s cricket team faces a tough challenge as they prepare for the upcoming T20I series against Australia. Three key players will miss the matches due to injuries. Will O’Rourke, a promising young bowler, has a stress fracture in his lower back. This injury will keep him out for at least three months.
Scans have confirmed a stress fracture in O’Rourke’s lower back, sidelining the 24-year-old pacer for at least three months. The injury was picked up during the first Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month. He has since returned home and will now undergo a strength and conditioning programme before being reassessed.
“We’re really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him speedy recovery,” head coach Rob Walter said.
“He’s had such an impressive start to his career and so naturally it is disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he’s a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger.”
O’Rourke’s absence rules him out of the early white-ball block of the summer, including tours by Australia (October 1-4), England (October 18 – November 1) and the West Indies (November 5-22).The 24-year-old picked up the injury during the first Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month and was sent home, where scans revealed the extent of his injury.
Glenn Phillips is also sidelined as he recovers from a groin injury. He’ll be reassessed in a month. Glenn Phillips, meanwhile, continues his rehabilitation from a groin injury that forced him out of the Zimbabwe series. He will be reassessed in a month’s time.
Finn Allen is set for a longer layoff after surgery on his right foot, ruling him out for three months.Allen is likely to spend three months on the sidelines, while Phillips will be reassessed in a month to ascertain his potential return to play. To add to the misery, limited-overs captain Mitchell Santner, who recently returned after playing in The Hundred for Northern Superchargers, is also battling a groin pain
Mitchell Santner is due for abdominal surgery and will take a month to recover. He’s set to be in a race against time to be fit for the Australia series. Meanwhile, the Kiwis also have some positive news amid the long list of injuries as fast bowler Ben Sears has recovered from the side-strain which kept him out of the Zimbabwe tour and is likely to be available for the long home summer.
Captain Mitchell Santner is dealing with groin pain. He’ll undergo surgery and needs a month to recover. His leadership and skills are vital for the team, especially in these crucial matches.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter revealed that they will name Santner in the squads for the Australia series and will assess his rest and rehabilitation in the meantime.
“Mitch is a world-class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view,” Walter said.
“With that in mind we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks’ time, and from there we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series.”
Walter admitted the unavailability of Phillips and Allen was a setback.
“It’s disappointing to lose the services of Glenn and Finn who have played important batting roles in our T20 set up in recent times. Like in Zimbabwe, their unavailability will present opportunities for others to put their hands up in what’s going to be a hugely exciting and important series against Australia.”
There was at least one positive update with seamer Ben Sears cleared to return after a side strain. The 26-year-old is expected to be available for the start of the home season.
After three T20Is against Australia, New Zealand will play as many T20Is and ODIs against England starting from October 18. They will further play five T20Is, three ODIs and as many Tests against West Indies, starting from November 5. The West Indies series will also mark New Zealand’s first assignment in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2025-27.
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