Surgery to rule Bennett out of season

Hamish Bennett, the New Zealand fast bowler, will undergo surgery next month as he tries to overcome a persistent back injury. Bennett, 24, has been out of competitive cricket for more than ten months and is expected to miss the rest of the domestic season.

"Scans have revealed that a combination of factors are combining to put pressure on a nerve in Hamish's back and thus causing recurrent pain when he attempts to bowl at 100%," NZC medical director Ian Murphy said. "An orthopaedic spine surgeon has recommended that the best management at this stage would be to undergo surgery to attempt to alleviate the pressure on the nerve."

Bennett last played a competitive match in March, for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in the group stages of the World Cup. He was ruled out of the latter stages of the tournament after injuring his ankle and Achilles tendon. He missed New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe in October and November due to his sore back.

He had hoped to be fit in time for the HRV Cup which began last month, but the back problem kept him on the sidelines.