Zimbabwe's opening batsman, Hamilton Masakadza, has been ruled out of the second cricket test against New Zealand which begins at Bulawayo tonight.
Masakadza is nursing a left lower-back strain from the first test, which the Black Caps won by an innings and 117 runs last weekend.
It's a major blow to the hosts' already slim hopes. with the 32-year-old's 30 test appearances making him Zimbabwe's most experienced player.
Masakadza is the only omission from the 15-man squad from the first test, with his place taken by the offspinner John Nyumbu.
Meanwhile, Black Caps have spent the week recovering from a flu that went through the team, causing some players to lose their voices
-Reuters