2 Oct 2016

Black Caps skipper out of second Test

12:44 pm on 2 October 2016

The New Zealand men's cricket team has suffered a major setback ahead of the second Test at Kolkata, with captain Kane Williamson forced out with a virus.

Kane Williamson

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson Photo: Photosport

Former captain Ross Taylor is leading the side at Eden Gardens instead, with Henry Nicholls replacing Williamson in the batting line-up.

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Williamson did not train with the team on Thursday after becoming ill but initial indications were that he might have been able to play.

Jeetan Patel

Jeetan Patel has replaced Mark Craig Photo: Photosport

Williamson's batting prowess was further underlined early this week when he rose to number two in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test world rankings.

He top-scored for the side in their first innings of the first Test with 75, has a Test average of 51 and has scored 14 centuries.

India convincingly won the first Test at Kanpur to go 1-0 up in the best-of-three series.

The Black Caps have made two other changes to the playing 11 from the first Test, with leg-spinner Ish Sodhi replaced by pace bowler Matt Henry and off-spinner Jeetan Patel coming in for the injured Mark Craig.

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