Daryl Mitchell ruled out of 5th ODI against West Indies with injury

New Zealand have suffered an injury setback ahead of the fifth ODI against West Indies in Barbados as their star batter Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the contest. Mitchell, 35, has suffered a low-grade hip strain, forcing him to fly back home to continue his recovery.

"Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the fifth and final ODI against the West Indies with a low-grade hip strain. Mitchell departs Barbados today and will return home to New Zealand to continue a brief recovery period," a New Zealand Cricket statement read.

While the Kiwis have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, the absence of Mitchell for the last fixture can adversely impact their chances of finishing with a win.

Mitchell is the second-leading run-getter in the series behind Keacy Carty (174 runs). The right-hander amassed 121 runs in three innings, averaging 40.33 at a strike rate of 73.33, including a fifty (65) which came in the curtain-raiser in Guyana, in a losing cause.

Mitchell is the No. 1-ranked batter in the ICC men's ODI batting rankings with 814 ratings and has been remarkably consistent with his impressive performances in the recent past.

New Zealand's reign of dominance over West Indies continues

New Zealand have now completed a hat-trick of ODI series wins over West Indies. They whitewashed Windies 3-0 in a three-match ODI series in 2017/18 at home and backed it up with a 2-1 triumph over the Men in Maroon in a three-match ODI series in the Caribbean in 2022, and have once again showcased their supremacy.

A five-match ODI series, played between the two teams in 2013/14, ended in a 2-2 draw with one game getting abandoned without a ball bowled. West Indies have not won an ODI series against the Blackcaps in the last 14 years. Their last series win (4-1) came on home turf in a five-match contest in July 2012.