Ryder & McCullum are both in doubt for the first test.
Yep, Jess has some mystery virius and Baz has some issues with his back :-(
NZ call for back-up
14/11/2008 10:13 PM
Steve Orme
Sportal
The Black Caps have sent for reinforcements amid concerns over the availability of gloveman Brendon McCullum (back) and top-order slugger Jesse Ryder (virus) for next Thursday's first Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Peter Fulton will link with the squad for the duration of the tour on Monday in the event Ryder, who spent most of Thursday on a drip, fails to overcome the effects of the virus in time, while Gareth Hopkins will also arrive on Monday as an emergency squad member.
McCullum failed to return to the field after tea on day-two of the Kiwis' tour match against NSW at the SCG after complaining of back spasms.
But while the tourists wasted no time issuing the SOS call across the Tasman the vice-captain is still a chance to take his place when play resumes on Saturday.
"He is hoping to be on the field tomorrow morning but we won't know that until we see how he scrubs up in the morning," team manager Lindsay Crocker said.
"Again with him there's a range of possibilities in regards to next week, firstly and hopefully he'll be fine to participate fully in the match, batting and keeping."
"The other possibility of course remains that if his back isn't right he may only participate as a batsman
the third possibility is that if his back really does cause him problems over the next few days it's of course possible that he doesn't play at all."
Quizzed on the nature of the injury Crocker revealed: "He's had a bit of a stiff back for the last two or three days and today during the course of the second session he was feeling a bit of spasms in the back."
"He has had a history of having a sore back, it's kind of an occupational hazard with Brendon
it's certainly not something that's new to him."
Meanwhile, New Zealand seamer Iain O'Brien conceded the five catches his side grassed on Friday severely hampered their cause as the Blues built a 43-run lead at stumps.
"They hurt us and we could of rock-and-rolled them for 250 had we taken the five catches," O'Brien lamented.
"We dropped guys that went on to get good scores."
Blues opener Phillip Hughes, who struck a commanding 64 before flailing at a wide delivery, made no secret of his side's desire to ram home its advantage over the remaining two days.
"You don't play an international side every day of the week and to get the opportunity is great," the 19-year-old said.
"It's always (about building) momentum so hopefully we can win this game and definitely it will give us momentum going into a Sheffield Shield game against Queensland next Friday."
