New Zealand could be without Rachin Ravindra for the T20I series opener on 1 October against Australia, which will be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. The spin-bowling all-rounder collided with an advertising hoarding while attempting a catch and has suffered a facial laceration.
According to details shared by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), after sustaining the freak injury, the 25-year-old passed a concussion test at Bay Oval but will continue to be assessed. A decision on his availability will be made closer to the start of the match.
“Rachin Ravindra sustained a facial injury at BlackCaps training today after he collided with a perimeter boundary hoarding while attempting to take a catch during fielding practice at Bay Oval,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement.
“Ravindra received a facial laceration and will continue to be monitored by the medical team, having passed an initial concussion test at the ground,” the official New Zealand team account posted.
This marks the second time Rachin has sustained a facial injury this year. Back in February, ahead of the Champions Trophy, he was hit on the forehead while attempting a catch under the floodlights during a tri-series match against South Africa in Lahore. Such was the impact that it ruled him out of the rest of the tri-series, as well as New Zealand’s opening fixture of the Champions Trophy against Pakistan.
The three-match series against Australia begins on 1 October at Bay Oval, with subsequent fixtures scheduled for 3 and 4 October at the same venue.
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