Thumb injury rules New Zealand's Martin Guptill out of England series

Martin Guptill is set to miss New Zealand's forthcoming Test series against England after suffering a thumb injury.

Guptill shrugged off a painful strained hamstring to help his team to victory in the opening one-day international of the series in Hamilton last weekend, returned to bat after retiring hurt.

The hamstring problem will also prevent him from playing in Saturday's ODI decider in Auckland, but now ligament damage to his left thumb will require surgery and rule him out for a longer period.

"We felt it was best to get Martin right for the tour to England in May and June, so the next couple of months were seen as the best window to have the surgery," said Paul Close, the New Zealand physiotherapist.

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