Matt Henry fractures thumb as New Zealand struggles continue in Australia

The seamer continued to bowl on the second day, however, though whether he bats will depend on the situation of the game going forward.

Matt Henry and Jeet Raval have become the latest members of New Zealand’s touring party in Australia to fall victim to injury and illness.

Henry fractured his thumb on the first day of the third Test at Sydney as he attempted to stop a stroke from Joe Burns in his own follow-through. He continued to bowl, however, though whether he bats will depend on the situation of the game going forward.

“An X-ray last night confirmed Matt Henry has broken his left thumb following a blow on day one,” a New Zealand Cricket statement explained. “It has been strapped and placed in a splint. Henry will continue to bowl in the Test with his batting match dependent.”

Henry’s injury is the latest in a troubled series for Gary Stead’s side. Fellow seamer Lockie Ferguson injured his calf on the first day of the series on his Test debut. Trent Boult then fractured his own hand in the second Test.

Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner were all then left out at Sydney due to illness, with Raval – only playing because of Williamson’s absence – then laid low by the bug on the second day.

The left-hander had been dropped after the first game at the Optus Stadium in Perth; he made two scores of 1, the latest in a long line of recent struggles for the opening batsman. He was replaced in Melbourne by Tom Blundell, who subsequently made a century on debut.

Raval’s illness at one stage forced Peter Fulton, the former opening batsman and now the team’s batting coach, to don his whites in case required as a substitute fielder.

On the field, Australia's dominance continued, with Marnus Labuschagne reaching a maiden Test double century as the hosts made 454. New Zealand ended the day unscathced, with Blundell and stand-in captain Tom Latham leading them to stumps at 63 without loss.