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McMillan adds to Kiwis' injury woes
Craig McMillan gave New Zealand an unwanted injury headache on Sunday ahead of next week's second Test against England.
Craig McMillan gave New Zealand an unwanted injury headache on Sunday ahead of next week's second Test against England when he sustained more finger damage during the tourists' final warm-up match against Leicestershire here on Sunday.
Top order batsman McMillan was taken to hospital for X-rays having been hit on the already-damaged little finger of his left hand while batting against Darren Maddy at Grace Road.
Fast bowler Shane Bond, who missed England's seven-wicket win in the first Test at Lord's concluded last Monday, is already ruled out of the second Test at Headingley starting Thursday as he recovers from a stress fracture of the back.
McMillan's latest injury comes as New Zealand look to level the three-match series at 1-1.
However New Zealand tour manager Lindsay Crocker refused to rule out McMillan from a match New Zealand must win if they are to have a chance of repeating their 1999 Test series victory in England.
"Craig was hit on the same hand and the X-rays showed a fracture which we knew already existed," Crocker said.
"But it's a matter whether it is the same fracture that has been hit again and bruised or whether the injury has been worsened or re-fractured.
"We won't know that until tomorrow (Monday) when the two X-rays have been compared and then we will be in a better position to know what we are dealing with.
"If it's just a bruise then he should be reasonably okay for the Test. But if it's a new fracture or re-fractured then we are back to square one again.
"Craig played with discomfort last time at Lord's and it is a matter of whether he can do that again if it turns out to be a new break."
McMillan hade made 68, including 10 fours, before he was forced to retire hurt.
He was not the only New Zealand batsman who found runs easy to come by against the Leicestershire attack.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming made 95 and Chris Cairns smashed a typically aggressive 62 off just 53 balls as the tourists piled up 357 for five declared.
At stumps Leicestershire were 68 for two needing a massive and highly improbable 493 more runs to win on Monday's fourth and final day.
