New Zealand Bowler O'Rourke Ruled Out Zimbabwe Test Due Back Injury

New Zealand pacer Will O'Rourke has been ruled out of the second Test against Zimbabwe due to a back injury sustained during the first Test in Bulawayo. O'Rourke, who took three wickets in the second innings of the first match, will return to New Zealand for further medical assessment, and left-arm pacer Ben Lister, who was already in Zimbabwe as injury cover, will remain with the squad. This follows the earlier loss of bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith to an abdominal strain, complicating New Zealand's pace attack. The injury to O'Rourke opens opportunities for uncapped bowlers such as Ben Lister, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, or Matthew Fisher to make their Test debuts in the series decider. New Zealand captain Tom Latham missed the first Test with a shoulder injury, and his fitness for the second Test remains uncertain. Bowling coach Jacob Oram emphasized the importance of managing O'Rourke's injury carefully due to the upcoming demanding Test schedule.