Ross Taylor doubtful for remainder of Zimbabwe tour due to calf injury

Wellington, Jan 27 (ANI): New Zealand captain Ross Taylor's participation in the first cricket test against Zimbabwe and the rest of the series is in doubt after he suffered a suspected torn calf muscle.

Taylor travelled to Hastings to undergo a scan on his injured right calf during a lengthy rain delay on day two at McLean Park in Napier, after he was forced to retire hurt on 122.

He returned to the ground on crutches, with a bandage on his calf, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Taylor suffered the injury while attempting a short single, as New Zealand moved to 392-5 before rain saw the second day's play abandoned at McLean Park.

The umpires called play off due to a wet outfield at 3.45pm, and it is scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Brendon McCullum will take over the captaincy if Taylor is sidelined.

Just 15.2 overs were possible before the southerly breeze and rain arrived, in which New Zealand added 61 runs to their overnight score and lost no wickets.

Taylor added 11 to his overnight score after scoring his sixth test century in sunny, warm conditions yesterday.

Taylor continued on untroubled in the early overs, towards his highest test score of 154 not out against England at Manchester in 2008, but it all went wrong as he pushed a ball into the off side and took off for the run before pulling up lame immediately.

He hopped to other end but was clearly not well, and team physiotherapist Paul Close was immediately to the centre.

Taylor came into the match with a minor calf problem and admitted it wasn't 100 percent, but he got through 215 minutes at the crease in near 30degC heat yesterday. (ANI)