Neil Wagner is ruled out of the second Test between New Zealand and Sri Lanka due to several ailments; Doug Bracewell is called up.

New Zealand‘s fast left arm Neil Wagner has been ruled out of the forthcoming second Test against Sri Lanka due to a strained right hamstring and a bulging disc in his back, as found during a scan on Sunday.

On Day 3 of the ongoing first Test between the hosts and the Lankan Lions at Hagley Oval, the pacer complained of soreness and was then taken away for diagnostic scans.

The Black Caps’ loss of Neil Wagner is a significant setback because the left-arm seamer is essential to their captain Tim Southee-led speed offensive.

His injury-related absence will place a significant burden on Matt Henry, Blair Tickner, and Southee himself. The Black Caps have called up Doug Bracewell, a right-arm seam bowling all-rounder, to fill the void Neil Wagner left behind.

In the recently finished home series against England, Neil Wagner was able to provide wicket-taking spells for the Kiwis. In the first Test against the Three Lions in Mount Maunganui, he took four wickets, and in the second and final Test of the series in Wellington, he took another four wickets.

Thus, his absence will have a significant negative impact on the current series against Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, the outcome of the ongoing Test at Hagley Oval is uncertain since both teams have an equal chance of victory.

The Tim Southee-led team is chasing 285 runs in its fourth inning and is 28/1 at the end of play on Day 4. They need 257 more runs to win the game and take the lead in the series. They have Tom Latham and Kane Williamson batting in the middle, and Day 5 will depend heavily on their shoulders.

In the last seconds of Day 4, Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha took advantage of a caught and bowled opportunity to dismiss the hosts’ opener, Devon Conway. Conway was eliminated with a score of 5 Sri Lanka must win in order to remain in contention for the WTC championship.