Seifert ruled out of West Indies T20Is with broken finger

Tim Seifert has been ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series with a broken finger. Mitch Hay has been called up to the squad as his replacement for the series, New Zealand Cricket confirmed in a press release on Monday.

Seifert retired hurt while batting in the Ford Trophy for Northern Districts against Wellington Firebirds before a subsequent scan revealed a fracture to his right index finger.

Speaking on the injury, head coach Rob Walter was disappointed to lose a key cog of his T20I setup on the eve of an important series. "We're all feeling for Tim," Walter said. "He's a key member of this T20 unit given his power at the top of the order and his role as keeper, so he'll be missed over the next five matches."

"We're hoping Tim's recovery will be quick and he'll be back on the park as soon as possible."

Hay, meanwhile, has featured in 11 T20Is for New Zealand so far since debuting against Sri Lanka in November 2024. He also has the world record for the most dismissals (6) in an innings in T20 international cricket.

"Mitch has shown in his international opportunities so far that he's a top-quality wicketkeeper batter and is more than capable of contributing at this level. We're lucky to be able call on another player of his ability which shows the level of depth we currently have in the T20 format," Walter said.

The five-match series against West Indies starts on Wednesday (November 5) at Eden Park, Auckland.