India will be without captain and batting mainstay Virat Kohli, who decided to skip the first of the two Tests, while batter Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will miss both matches.
'There's no secret we're right in the hunt for the World Test Championship final following our two-nil win over India and having Trent and Kane fully fit and focussed for the upcoming series will be crucial.'
Wheelchair-bound former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns says he is 'very lucky to be alive', three months after a medical emergency left him on life support.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has withdrawn from the second Test against West Indies and returned home to be with his pregnant wife, coach Gary Stead said on Thursday.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Thursday described his hamstring injury a 'minor' one but admitted that an elbow niggle is affecting his grip.
The International Cricket Council approved rule changes that allow players to be replaced if they are feeling unwell or display COVID-19 symptoms and then return to the game if tests are negative.
Injuries to frontline fast bowlers have forced New Zealand to opt for fresh blood in their pace attack for the three-match ODI series against India starting February 5 in Hamilton. Kyle Jamieson could be in for a potential debut, while Scott Kuggeleijn and Hamish Bennett return to the squad after a long absence. Injury has meant the likes of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are unavailable for the series.
Senior New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was ruled out of the three-match series after failing to recover from a back injury.
'Williamson, Jamieson rested from T20s as Tests key priority.'
New Zealand's stand-in captain Tim Southee said long periods in bio-bubble takes a toll on the cricketers' physical and mental health and hopes that they don't have to play in protected environments for far too long.
Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme made themselves unavailable for selection due to the prospect of further time in bio-secure bubbles and Managed Isolation.
India did to us what we have done to the other teams around the world, New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham said on Monday after the humbling defeat in the second Test in Mumbai.
New Zealand vice-captain Tom Latham says losing the first day to rain will not change their approach to team selection.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead on Friday said beating India in Tests at home in spin-friendly conditions was "one of world cricket's greatest challenges" and he has no illusion about how tough it would be to face Virat Kohli's men in the upcoming tour.
The squad for the two Tests against India is set to be named on February 17, with the opening match starting four days later in Wellington on February 21.
Towering fast bowler Kyle Jamieson will make his international debut for New Zealand against India in the second one-day match in Auckland on Saturday. The 2.03m (6'8") tall Jamieson was called into the national squad for the final two Tests against Australia but did not play and was not in the side for the opening one-day match against India in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Pakistan will have 'revenge' on their mind for a recent off-field snub when they take on New Zealand in the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Tuesday.
BJ Watling will be retiring from international cricket after the tour of England.
The Indian batsmen will get a liberal dose of "chin music" in the second Test at the seamer-friendly Hagley Oval, senior New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner declared on Wednesday, harping on the visitors' struggles when faced with pace and bounce. With India troubled by short balls bowled from round the wicket, the 33-year-old Wagner promised that they will employ the same strategy during the second match starting Saturday.
Virat Kohli said India would not go into their shells as they prepared for the series-deciding game at Hagley Oval from Feb. 29.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead expected India would be more competitive in the second match in Christchurch.
New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult has recovered from a broken hand to be included in the 13-player squad to face India in the two-Test series, as selectors swung the axe following the dismal tour of Australia. Left-armer Boult broke his right hand in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December but is fit for the first Test against India starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.
Tim Southee admitted he was disappointed not to have played in Sydney but said he has moved on.
Their opponents New Zealand, who effectively knocked India out of the World Cup, have reached Jaipur on a chartered flight from Dubai with little time to reflect on their loss to Australia in the title clash.
New Zealand last toured Pakistan in 2003 for a white-ball series and since then have avoided touring the country because of security reasons.
Latham was just one of three players to have broken bones on the tour, with opening bowler Trent Boult sustaining a fracture in his right hand during the second Test in Melbourne.
New Zealand's towering new all-rounder Kyle Jamieson provided a second consecutive match-winning performance in the second Test against India at Hagley Oval on Monday as the home side clinched a 2-0 series win. He took Player of the Series honours after taking 5-45 in India's first innings followed by 49 batting at number nine as India's pace bowlers fought back on a green pitch offering extravagant movement off the seam.
The only selection issue facing New Zealand as they head into the second match against India at Christchurch is likely to be whether pace bowler Kyle Jamieson, so impressive on his Test debut at the Basin Reserve, bats higher in the order. Jamieson made a big impression in the hosts' 10-wicket victory in the opener of the two-Test series, capturing 4-39 in the first innings and then scoring 44 in a rearguard action.
As captain, Kane Williamson would face suspension if New Zealand are fined again for a slow rate.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead, on Tuesday, said he was a bit surprised by India's abject surrender in the first Test but is expecting a strong comeback in Christchurch.
'There is pressure on both teams. The exciting thing is that both teams have not won the World Cup and both have experience of finals. But since England and India were looked at as winners, maybe there is more pressure on them'
The dead rubber New Year's Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground at least offers a chance for New Zealand to reset
The squad will then be trimmed to 15 for the ICC World Test Championship final against India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton starting on June 18, as per ICC regulations.
Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav tormented New Zealand again as India coasted to a 90-run victory in the second one-day international at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident his team had put losses to Pakistan, Australia and England behind them as they head to the knockout stage.
The victory was New Zealand's fifth Test series win in succession and all the more remarkable with the entire first two days of play washed out.
Sharma (62) combined with captain Kohli (60) in a 113-run partnership to set up their successful chase before Ambati Rayudu (40) completed the formalities with Dinesh Karthik, who was 38 not out, as India romped home with seven overs to spare.
'Just catch up with everyone I haven't seen in a long time'
A number of top cricketers have expressed concern about being confined to biosecure bubbles for months on end to keep international schedules on track.
New Zealand, the tournament runners-up last time, grabbed the last semi-final berth after a hat-trick of defeats nearly derailed their strong start in the tournament.
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