New Zealand suffered a significant setback on Wednesday during the second Test against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, as pacer Blair Tickner was stretchered off the field with what is suspected to be a dislocated shoulder. For a side already battling multiple injuries this series, this moment felt like another heavy punch to their bowling depth.
Tickner, playing his first Test since early 2023, had been exceptional with the ball earlier in the day. The right-arm quick produced a superb spell, finishing with 4/32 from 16 overs and emerging as New Zealand’s most impactful bowler. However, disaster struck in the 63rd over.
While sprinting to his right at fine leg in an effort to prevent a boundary off Tevon Imlach’s flick, Tickner put in a full-length dive near the rope. He stayed down immediately, clutching his shoulder, and the reaction from his teammates told the story—this was serious.
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Medical staff from both New Zealand and the venue rushed to his aid, treating him on the boundary line before he was stretchered off the field to a warm round of applause from the Basin Reserve crowd. He remained upright on the stretcher but was visibly in discomfort and was later transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for further scans and treatment.
New Zealand’s injury woes continue during this #NZvWI series.
Blair Tickner, their standout performer on the opening day of the second Test in Wellington, suffered a suspected dislocation of his left shoulder https://t.co/weVyWXgI56 pic.twitter.com/dTCNkjCvEm
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 10, 2025
Blair Tickner injured of saving a boundary. He may have dislocates his shoulder. Concerned faces in the New Zealand camp and Rae is almost in tears! Tickner is being stretchered off.#NZvWI pic.twitter.com/tuCw8xLhPz
— Cric Venky (@VenkyK_Offic) December 10, 2025
His injury compounds New Zealand’s growing pace-bowling crisis, with Matt Henry and Nathan Smith already ruled out before this Test, and Ben Sears, Will O’Rourke and Matt Fisher unavailable for the series. Losing yet another frontline pacer mid-Test could have significant tactical implications, especially after the Christchurch Test had already forced the hosts to operate a bowler short.
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The mood around the ground quickly shifted from upbeat to deflated, despite New Zealand having enjoyed two intense sessions. Tickner had earlier dismantled the West Indies’ top and middle order, trapping Brandon King and Kavem Hodge LBW, unsettling Shai Hope with a sharp bouncer, and sending Roston Chase’s stump flying.
If scans confirm that Tickner cannot return to the field, New Zealand’s already inexperienced attack—featuring Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes and debutant Michael Rae—will be under immense pressure to shoulder the workload for the remainder of the Test.
