Thursday, it was announced by the cricket board of New Zealand that Tim Southee could not join the team on tour to South Africa. A recent report has revealed that he has got himself injured on a thumb and the same is causing him to be ruled out of the tour.

Tim Southee is a fast bowler and the injury is expected to not allow him to go on the field for up to two months. It has been found that when he was diving during a domestic match in the field, he got the thumb wound.

He, 24, had proved himself as New Zealand's most impressive bowler while he played in Sri Lanka during their drawn test series. He was seeking to play in Durban also for Friday's opening Twenty20 game, but physiotherapist Paul Close has told that his ligament is completely ruptured and retracted as he had landed on his thumb during fielding.

It is therefore that he is being left to undergo surgery. NZC medical staff along with a hand specialist has suggested the same. However, a replacement for him for the SA tour is yet to be decided. "He will commence rehabilitation immediately following the procedure, with a view to him returning to cricket during the home summer", Close said.