Andre Adams on way home from Pakistan with suspected stress fracture

All-rounder Andre Adams is on his way home from Pakistan, the latest player to suffer a suspected stress fracture in the lumbar region of his back.

Adams, who last month helped bowl New Zealand to victory over England in the third Test to square the three-match series with England, did not play in the first Test against Pakistan which New Zealand lost by a record margin.

He is to be studied by specialists in New Zealand before a final analysis is made of his condition but it now seems highly unlikely that he will be fit for consideration for New Zealand's tour to the West Indies in June.

That will be a big blow for Adams who has made no secret of the fact that he wanted to tour the West Indies, the homelands of his parents.

With only the second Test remaining to be played on the tour no word has been forthcoming from New Zealand Cricket about a replacement player. The team has already lost Nathan Astle and Jacob Oram with injury problems which forced them home early.