Northern Districts pace bowler Kristian Clarke has joined the Black Caps Test squad before this week's second Test against the West Indies amid a mounting injury crisis that has left New Zealand scrambling for fit bowlers.
He's the latest uncapped player to join the squad after Canterbury's Michael Rae was called up yesterday.
Both will bolster a depleted pace attack after key players were injured during last week's Test in Christchurch.
Matt Henry has been ruled out after suffering a calf injury, while Nathan Smith picked up a side strain at Hagley Oval. All-rounder Mitchell Santner, who underwent abdominal surgery in August, remains unavailable for the remainder of the series.
Fellow pace-men Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke were still both managing “return-to-play protocols”.
Rae and Clarke join Jacob Duffy and Blair Tickner as likely seam options for Wellington.
New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Blundell also strained a hamstring during the Test and will be unavailable. Mitchell Hay was called into the squad and was expected to make his Test debut at the Basin Reserve.
The first Test ended in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with the West Indies clinging on for a draw thanks to an unbeaten double century from Justin Greaves.
New Zealand had earlier set the tourists a daunting 531 to win after declaring at 466-8, built on centuries from Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra, and a five-wicket haul from Duffy.
The second Test begins on Wednesday at the Basin Reserve and will be available to watch live and free on TVNZ Duke and TVNZ+.
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