Cumming cover as Ryder's tour in doubt

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A scan will determine whether New Zealand cricket opener Jesse Ryder plays any role in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series after he and Brendon McCullum both sent injury scares through the camp.

It was a forgettable first training session of the tour, with Ryder almost certain to miss Sunday's series opener against Australia in Perth with a shoulder injury and McCullum suffering a minor hip injury which saw Gareth Hopkins summoned across the Tasman as wicketkeeping cover.

Ryder's rotator cuff in his left shoulder was causing the most concern, and team management will await results of an MRI scan before deciding today whether he remains on tour or returns home.

Regardless, Otago batsman Craig Cumming will join Hopkins on the flight to Perth as cover for Ryder. Cumming, 33, played the last of his 12 ODIs against Australia in 2005 but averaged 63.83 in the State Shield this season.

Vice-captain McCullum limped away from the Manuka Oval nets after suffering his injury while batting, but will play against the Justin Langer-captained Prime Minister's 11 in Canberra today. He will likely relinquish the wicketkeeping gloves to local Australian Under-19 squad member Ryan Carters in the hope he can play a full role in Perth.

Team manager Lindsay Crocker said Ryder – who was also the original wicketkeeping cover in the tour squad – aggravated an old injury while fielding and batting in 35degC heat yesterday.

"It flared up while he was going about his work and it got progressively worse," Crocker said.

"It's exceedingly unlikely Jesse will play in Perth. He's having an MRI and then we'll decide whether he remains on tour or is replaced.

"He's pretty disappointed because he was looking forward to this tour, but it's out of his hands now."

It was a further blow for captain Daniel Vettori, already without veteran allrounders Jacob Oram and Scott Styris and leading one of the most inexperienced New Zealand sides to cross the Tasman.

"I think Brendon will be fine, he'll just take it easy in terms of the 'keeping. With Jesse, hopefully there's not too much damage there," Vettori said.

"It's not great because the strength of the team is now becoming the top-four batting. That was going to be a real strength of ours over here so hopefully it doesn't have too much of an effect within the team and they're all fit to play the first one-dayer."

Ryder's absence would further disrupt the balance of the side, with his medium-pace bowling potentially allowing Jeetan Patel to play as a second spinner.

"I'd really like to play two spinners, we always talk about it. With the success of Johan Botha in the South African series there's a chance for Jeetan to come in and continue on his good work," Vettori said.

"But we're always hampered with the lack of allrounders and Jacob not being in the side, and if Jesse's not fit his bowling also comes out of play."

Meanwhile, young paceman Tim Southee is increasingly likely to rest tomorrow despite training strongly yesterday in his recovery from a minor groin injury.

Crocker said Southee would be rested as a precaution but wasn't in doubt for Perth, leaving Kyle Mills and Iain O'Brien to share the new ball against Langer and company.

New Zealand were delaying naming their side for today's traditional fixture, but Martin Guptill will likely open with McCullum, with Ross Taylor and Peter Fulton shuffling up one spot.

The tourists arrived to the standard media welcome as Australians digested the home side losing the ODI series to South Africa with a match to play.

"Even this useless mob think they can beat us," said the Daily Telegraph's headline above a photo of the team at Sydney Airport.

-NZPA