New Zealand's Vettori has Achilles surgery

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has had an operation on his left Achilles tendon in a bid to prolong his career, team management in England announced in a statement on Thursday.

The 34-year-old left-armer returned from nearly a year out of international action to play in all three of New Zealand’s Champions Trophy group matches before the Black Caps bowed out ahead of the knockout stages.

But the former New Zealand captain often looked in pain while fielding and batted just the once.

“Dan has been suffering from this injury for the past year and surgery was the only option to prolong his career with the Black Caps,” said New Zealand physiotherapist Paul Close in a statement.

Close added that Vettori’s operation in London on Wednesday had gone well.

Injuries also sidelined all-rounder Grant Elliott and seamer Tim Southee from next week’s two Twenty20 matches against England at The Oval, while batsman Kane Williamson and wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi have also left the squad.

Test opener Hamish Rutherford and fellow batsman Tom Latham will join the squad for the Twenty20 games, along with spinner Roneel Hira.

New Zealand, beaten 2-0 by England in a Test series this season but 2-1 winners in a subsequent one-day international campaign, will prepare for the Twenty20 fixtures with a warm-up game against Kent in Canterbury on Saturday.

New Zealand squad for two T20 internationals against England at The Oval on June 25 and 27:

Brendon McCullum (Otago Volts, capt/wkt), Corey Anderson (Northern Knights), Doug Bracewell (Central Stags), Ian Butler (Otago Volts), James Franklin (Wellington Firebirds), Martin Guptill (Auckland Aces), Roneel Hira (Canterbury Wizards), Tom Latham (Canterbury Wizards), Mitchell McClenaghan (Auckland Aces), Nathan McCullum (Otago Volts), Kyle Mills (Auckland Aces), Colin Munro (Auckland Aces), Hamish Rutherford (Otago Volts), Ross Taylor (Central Stags)