Styris unlikely for first Test

Scott Styris is likely to miss the first Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch next month due to his continued back injury.

Styris has been struggling with back trouble since returning home from his spell with English country side Middlesex and only played two matches in the Champions Trophy last month before the injury flared up again.

Black Caps manager Lindsay Crocker told the Dominion Post newspaper that “it’s not in anyone’s best interests for Scott to play when he isn’t 100 per cent right, so it’s unlikely he’ll be considered.”

“We’ve got a World Cup in the West Indies at the very end of the season, so there is no point risking a player like him at this stage. We just need to be patient and get him back to full fitness,” Crooker added.

New Zealand will also be unable to call on Canterbury opening batsman Michael Papps who has a broken finger.

The first Test starts on 7 December and is followed by one further Test and two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals.