Tickner stretchered off after suspected shoulder dislocation

Blair Tickner's return to Test cricket turned painful as the New Zealand seamer had to be stretchered off the Basin Reserve after suffering a suspected shoulder dislocation while fielding on the opening day of the second Test against West Indies.

Tickner, playing his first Test since early 2023, had earlier spearheaded the hosts' attack with a superb 4 for 32, ripping through the visitors' top order. His outing changed course dramatically in the 67th over when he dived at fine leg in an attempt to save a boundary off a Tevon Imlach flick. He immediately signalled for help and was taken off the field to warm applause.

The setback adds to New Zealand's growing injury crisis in the seam department. Tickner had only been drafted in after Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were ruled out in Christchurch, and his departure makes him the third fast bowler to be sidelined mid-Test in this series.

Before the injury, Tickner had been the pick of the attack, trapping Brandon King and Kavem Hodge lbw, bouncing out Shai Hope, and uprooting Roston Chase's leg stump. His absence leaves New Zealand with Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and debutant Michael Rae—a trio with limited Test experience—to carry the seam workload. Part-timers Glenn Phillips (31 Test wickets) and Kane Williamson (30) remain the side's leading wicket-takers in the match.

It is the first time since the Kingston Test of 2012, when Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner debuted together, that New Zealand have fielded a pace attack with fewer than 50 combined Test wickets. The hosts, despite bowling West Indies out for 205 in the first innings, again face the prospect of finishing a Test short of frontline seamers, just as they did in Christchurch, where West Indies held on for a draw.