Injured Guptill out of T20I, first two ODIs
Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips and Dean Brownlie have replaced Guptill in the T20I and ODI teams respectively
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Feb-2017
The hamstring strain revealed on Tuesday was different from the injury that kept Martin Guptill out of the two ODIs against Australia • Getty Images
Martin Guptill has been ruled out of the one-off T20 international and the first two ODIs against South Africa due to a hamstring niggle. Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips has been named Guptill's replacement for the T20I, while Dean Brownlie will take his place in the ODI squad.
Guptill, who was picked in both squads last week, had a scan on Tuesday, which revealed a right-hamstring strain. He picked up the injury while training for the upcoming series, New Zealand Cricket said, and the injury was different from the left hamstring strain that had kept him out of the last two ODIs of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy earlier this month.
New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen said Phillips had been rewarded for consistent performances in domestic cricket. The 20-year-old topped the run charts in the 2016-17 Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 competition, scoring 369 in 10 matches at a strike rate of 143.02 with a century and three fifties. He is expected to play as a specialist batsman in the T20I in Auckland on February 17, with Luke Ronchi taking up the wicketkeeping gloves.
"Glenn was outstanding for Auckland at the top of the order in the McDonald's Super Smash and proved an extremely exciting player," Larsen said. "He bats with power, has shown he can clear the rope, and gets a deserved opportunity to showcase his skills on the international stage.
"Glenn will play as a specialist batsman only, with Luke still taking the gloves," Larsen added. "Playing in his home city, it will certainly be a big occasion for Glenn."
Brownlie had replaced Guptill in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and played the third match of the series after the second game in Napier was washed out. In his first international appearance since 2014, Brownlie struck 63 while opening the innings in a match that New Zealand won by 24 runs to take the series 2-0.
"Dean was the logical player to come into the squad following his recent performance against Australia," Larsen said. "We've seen the quality he brings and we're confident of the job he can do for us."
The five-match ODI series will begin from February 19, with the first two matches scheduled in Hamilton and Christchurch.