Mitch Hay replaces injured Seifert for West Indies T20Is

Mitch Hay replaces injured Seifert for West Indies T20Is

New Zealand vs West Indies: Tim Seifert has been ruled out of the five-match contest due to a finger injury. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed that Mitch Hay will join the squad as his replacement.

Tim Seifert will miss New Zealand’s upcoming home T20I series against the West Indies after breaking his finger. He got injured while batting for Northern Districts in a Ford Trophy match against Wellington Firebirds. An X-ray later confirmed a fracture in his right index finger. Mitchell Hay has been called up to replace him and joined the squad on Monday night.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said the team feels for Seifert, who is an important part of their T20 setup because of his big-hitting ability and role as wicketkeeper. Walter added that Seifert was getting back to top form in recent matches, so, unfortunately, his progress has been interrupted. He hopes Seifert recovers quickly and returns to action soon.

Hay, also a wicketkeeper-batter, isn’t as experienced as Seifert but has already played 11 T20Is since debuting against Sri Lanka last November. He holds the world record for most dismissals (six) in a single T20I innings. Walter praised Hay’s performances so far and said he’s confident Hay can contribute well. He also mentioned that having a player like Hay ready to step in shows the strong depth New Zealand has in T20 cricket.