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Mitchell Santner Sidelined for a Month with Shoulder Injury

Mitchell Santner, New Zealand's white-ball captain, will be sidelined for at least a month due to a grade three ACL injury in his left shoulder. The injury occurred while fielding for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, forcing the franchise to replace him with Keshav Maharaj. Santner will miss the one-off Test against Ireland and the first Test against England in the WTC series. His absence is a significant blow to the Kiwis, who are second in the WTC standings and aiming for a final berth.

Key Points: Mitchell Santner Out for a Month: Shoulder Injury

  • Santner suffers grade three ACL shoulder injury
  • Sidelined for at least a month
  • Will miss Ireland Test and Lord's Test vs England
  • Injury occurred while fielding in IPL for MI
  • NZ faces WTC series without key all-rounder
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NZ all-rounder Mitchell Santner to be sidelined for atleast a month due to shoulder injury

NZ all-rounder Mitchell Santner sidelined for at least a month with a grade three ACL shoulder injury, missing key Tests against Ireland and England.

"Santner's excellence will be both bat and ball, and his ability to manage a crisis makes this a massive blow for the Kiwis. - News Content"

Wellington, May 1

New Zealand white-ball captain Mitchell Santner will be sidelined for at least a month following a grade three ACL injury in his left shoulder, as confirmed by the latest scans.

The 34-year-old spin bowling all-rounder, a crucial cog of the NZ Test line-up, suffered the injury while fielding in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians (MI), and the franchise had to rope in South African spinner Keshav Maharaj as his replacement. Santner returned to New Zealand earlier this week and, following a specialist consultation, has been advised to take rest and undergo rehab, as per ICC.

After the IPL, NZ will take on Ireland in a one-off, four-day Test on May 27, followed by a high-stakes three-Test ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against England kickstarting at Lord's from June 4. Santner will be missing both the Ireland Test and the Lord's Test, and a call on his participation in the remainder of the series will be made later.

Santner's excellence will be both bat and ball, and his ability to manage a crisis makes this a massive blow for the Kiwis. Under his leadership, Santner has been a fine limited-overs unit under transition, having made it to the finals of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup earlier this year, as well as the ICC Men's Champions Trophy held last year in Pakistan and Dubai.

Kiwis are currently placed second in the WTC standings, with two wins and a draw, with Australia sitting at the top. This year, Kiwis will be aiming to play some of their best Test cricket to book the WTC final next year for the second time, with an eye on another title.

New Zealand's next limited-overs assignment is a tour of the West Indies starting in July, featuring both ODIs and T20Is, before they return home for a marquee three-format series against India beginning in October. The final squad for the Ireland and England Tests is expected to be announced in the coming days, with the Kiwis now left with a problem of making a massive adjustment following Santner's injury.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajan S
This is a big blow for New Zealand, especially with the WTC race so tight. Santner's ability to bat in the lower middle-order gives them depth. But let's be honest, his batting hasn't been consistent in Tests. Still, his left-arm spin is crucial on turning tracks. Kiwis will miss him against England's left-handers.
S
Sneha F
Grade 3 shoulder strain is serious business. 😬 IPL injuries continue to impact international cricket. Santner was playing for MI and now NZ pays the price. The timing couldn't be worse - just before the Ireland Test and the big England series. Hope NZ's bench strength can step up. Glenn Phillips might get more responsibility now.
A
Aditya G
Respect to Santner for always giving his best in the IPL and for NZ. But we need to talk about the scheduling madness - players getting injured in one tournament and missing national duties. The cricket calendar is too packed. NZ will miss his calm head under pressure, especially in the limited overs. Get well soon, Mitch! 🙏
K
Kavya N
Honestly, Santner has been a bit overrated in Tests. His batting average in the format is around 30 with just one century. NZ has better spinners like Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi. But as a white-ball captain, he's done well. The injury gives NZ a chance to test their bench. Let see if they pick a like-for-like replacement or go for a specialist.
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Ravi K
Big miss for NZ against England. Santner's left-arm orthodox is useful against England's right-hand heavy batting. With the WTC race so tight

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