 The Kiwis want to make sure Styris is ready for next year's World Cup |
New Zealand's Scott Styris is set to miss the first Test against Sri Lanka next month because of a back problem. The 31-year-old has been struggling with a small rupture to a disc in his spine and will not be risked, with next March's World Cup a priority.
"We want to make sure that he gets into that competition," New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker explained.
"It's not in anyone's interests for Scott to play when he isn't 100% right, so it's unlikely he'll be considered."
He added: "We just need to be patient and get him back to full fitness.
Styris suffered the problem while playing for English county side Middlesex in September and it flared up again during last month's ICC Champions Trophy in India.
Opening batsman Michael Papps will also miss the first Test in Christchurch, starting on 7 December, because of a broken finger.
The Kiwis play Tests against Sri Lanka, followed by two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals.
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