New Zealand paceman Will O'Rourke faces long spell out with stress fracture

    New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke will be sidelined for least three months after scans revealed a stress fracture in is lower back.

    Will O'Rourke Will O'Rourke

    The 24-year-old sustained the injury while bowling in the first Test against Zimbabwe earlier this month and subsequently returned home to undergo further assessment.

    He will now miss the white-ball series against Australia, England and West Indies and could also be a doubt for the three Tests against the Windies in December.

    New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said: "We're really feeling for Will at the moment and wishing him speedy recovery.

    "He's had such an impressive start to his career and so naturally it is disappointing when an injury like this comes along, but he's a resilient guy and determined to put the work in and come back stronger."

    Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen have also been ruled out of the T20I series against Australia at Bay Oval in the first week of October.

    Phillips requires further rehabilitation on the groin injury that ruled him out of the Zimbabwe tour and will be reassessed in a month's time to ascertain his potential return to play, while Allen is set for three months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his right foot.

    New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner, who returned home from The Hundred following groin pain, is set to have abdominal surgery with an expected recovery time of approximately one month making him touch and go for the Australia series.

    Walter added: "Mitch is a world class player and a crucial part of our T20 side from a skills and leadership point of view.

    "With that in mind we expect to name him in our squad when we announce it in a couple of weeks' time, and from there we can assess how his rest and rehabilitation progresses following surgery, before making a call on the eve of the series.

    "It's disappointing to lose the services of Glenn and Finn who have played important batting roles in our T20 set up in recent times.

    "Like in Zimbabwe, their unavailability will present opportunities for others to put their hands up in what's going to be a hugely exciting and important series against Australia."