New Zealand’s fast bowler Ben Sears will miss the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies due to an ankle injury. Ben Lister has been named as his replacement in the 16-man squad. Sears had been experiencing ankle pain since the Test against Ireland in May, which worsened during the third Test against England at Trent Bridge.
Lister, a 30-year-old medium pacer, will join the squad in Guyana shortly. He made his ODI debut in 2023 against Pakistan and has played 17 times for New Zealand, taking 17 wickets. Injuries have been a concern for New Zealand, with Blair Tickner also out for ankle surgery, and Duffy returning after missing the recent Test series in England.
The ODI series will begin in Guyana with the first three matches on July 11, 13, and 16, before moving to Bridgetown in Barbados for the final two fixtures on July 19 and 21. New Zealand had a historic ODI series win in the West Indies in 2022, marking their first-ever series victory in the Caribbean.
