Injured Plunkett out of NZ tour

WELLINGTON: England fast bowler Liam Plunkett has been ruled out of the rest of the Trans-Tasman T20I Tri-Series as well as the ODI series against New Zealand which follows, after the recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Plunkett suffered a tear of his left hamstring during the third match of the one-day series with Australia at the SCG in January which limited him to just eight deliveries. The injury ruled him out of the remaining two matches of that series as well as England’s opening two games of the tri-series.

The 32 year-old returned to England’s side for the loss to New Zealand on Tuesday (February 13) in Wellington, returning figures of 0-33, but suffered “a minor recurrence” of the hamstring tear, according to an ECB statement. As such, he will return home from New Zealand and miss the five match ODI series which begins later this month.