Broken hand rules out Conway from T20 World Cup final

New Zealand batsman Devon Conway has been ruled out of Sunday’s T20 World Cup final against Australia with a broken right hand.

New Zealand Cricket said Conway sustained the injury when he struck his bat immediately after being dismissed during the semifinal match against England, which the Black Caps won by five wickets.

New Zealand will take on Australia in the final after Aaron Finch’s team beat Pakistan by five wickets in Dubai on Thursday.

Conway is also ruled out of New Zealand’s tour to India next week, during which they will play three T20s and two test matches.

Coach Gary Stead said Conway was “absolutely gutted” to bow out of the T20 World Cup.

“It looked a pretty innocuous reactionary incident on the field, but the blow obviously caught the bat between the glove padding and while it’s not the smartest thing he’s done there’s certainly an element of bad luck in the injury,” Stead said in a statement. “Devon is a great team-man and a very popular member of the side so we’re all feeling for him.”

Stead said New Zealand will not be flying in a replacement of Conway for Sunday’s final and the T20 series against India, beginning from next Wednesday, but “are working through our options for the Test series later this month.”

IMAGE: AP