New Zealand's Guptill to miss England Tests

WELLINGTON: New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill will miss the Black Caps' home Test series against England to undergo surgery on an injured thumb, officials said Thursday.

Guptill was already in doubt for the third and final one-day international against England in Auckland on Saturday with a hamstring strain, but had been expected to return for the three-Test series against the tourists next month.

Physiotherapist Paul Close said Guptill was also suffering from a previously undisclosed injury to a thumb ligament and needed to undergo surgery.

"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," he said.

Guptill went off injured during the first ODI in Hamilton but came back to score the winning runs for New Zealand in dramatic fashion, belting four fours and a six while playing on one leg to see his team home.

The ODI series is tied at 1-1 after England won in Napier on Wednesday.