Matt Henry to miss remainder of T20Is vs India; Ferguson to skip third game

New Zealand's fast-bowling depth will be put to a stern test for the remainder of the T20I series against India, with several pacers set to miss matches as part of workload management plans. Matt Henry will take no further part in the series. He will remain in Christchurch, the venue for the first two T20Is, before linking up with the ODI squad in Auckland on November 2.

Lockie Ferguson will fly to Auckland on October 25 instead of travelling with the T20I squad to Wellington for the third match. However, he will be available for selection for the fourth and fifth T20Is.

Fellow pacer Kyle Jamieson will stay back in Wellington following the third T20I at Hnry Stadium on Tuesday (October 27) and will miss the fourth and fifth matches. Instead, he will be available for Canterbury's second-round Ford Trophy fixture at Basin Reserve on October 31. Like Henry and Ferguson, Jamieson will then link up with the ODI squad.

Blair Tickner will join the Blackcaps squad in Wellington for the remainder of the T20I series. The right-arm pacer has claimed 19 wickets in 18 T20Is at an economy rate of 9.43. Meanwhile, 28-year-old Matt Fisher, who is yet to make his T20I debut, will travel to Wellington as cover for the third T20I before returning to the New Zealand A squad at Lincoln University on Wednesday.

Batting all-rounder Josh Clarkson, 29, will be available for selection for the fourth and fifth T20Is.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter expressed his gratitude for the depth within the country's cricketing system, which will be on display over the remainder of the series as the hosts manage the workloads of their frontline fast bowlers.

"It's been a competitive start to the T20I series, with two close games and plenty more cricket to come," Walter said in a statement issued by NZC.

"We're very fortunate to have the depth within our squad to call upon different players to help manage our pacers' workloads and ensure they're in the best possible position to perform for the team throughout the busy schedule ahead."

India are 2-0 ahead in the five-match series, winning both games by extremely narrow margins.