New Zealand bring in Matt Henry as cover for Southee, Anderson

New Zealand have drafted in pacer Matt Henry into their ODI squad ahead of the fifth and final One-dayer against India to cover for Tim Southee and Corey Anderson, both of whom are carrying niggles.

Anderson missed the fourth ODI in Hamilton earlier in the week, even as the Black Caps went on to beat the visitors by seven wickets and take an unassailable lead in the five-match series.

Southee has had surgery on his left foot earlier in his career, and the team management will be eager not to put unwarranted stress on him, considering that the series has already been won.

Also, both Southee and Anderson are part of the New Zealand Test squad for the two-match series starting in Auckland on February 4.

Henry trained with the team at the Basin Reserve on Thursday.

The 22-year-old made his first-class debut for Canterbury in 2010-11 before debuting in the shorter formats the following season.

He has taken 55 wickets at 22.70 in first-class matches, 37 wickets at 19.24 in List-A games and 21 wickets at 30.90 in Twenty20s.

During the recent HRV Cup, he took eight wickets at 24.12 with an economy rate of 7.42. He also toured Sri Lanka and India last year with the New Zealand ‘A’ team.

Image: Matt Henry of the Canterbury Wizards

Photograph: Joseph Johnson/Getty Images