Ross Taylor out of series with calf injury

Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, has been sidelined for three to four weeks after picking up a calf strain on the second morning of the only Test against Zimbabwe in Napier. Taylor will miss the rest of the Zimbabwe series and is hoping to be fit for the home one-dayers against South Africa in late February.

Taylor was injured attempting a single and was forced to retire hurt on 122 early on the second day. Only 15 overs of play was possible before rain intervened with New Zealand at a strong 392 for 5.

Paul Close, the New Zealand physio, said that Taylor would have further tests before starting a rehabilitation programme. "While it is early days, our target is to have Ross available for the one-day series against South Africa in late February," Close said.

Opener Brendon McCullum is expected to take over the captaincy from Taylor, although no official vice-captain has been named for the Zimbabwe series.