BLACKCAPS call up Styris as cover for injured Elliott

New Zealand Cricket has called up all-rounder Scott Styris to cover for the injured Grant Elliott at the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Elliott has a chipped bone in his right thumb, an injury sustained during the side's final group match against England.

Styris travelled this morning from India, where he is preparing for the Champions League tournament with the Deccan Chargers, and will arive in Johannesburg late Friday NZ time.

New Zealand team management advised that Elliott has trained since Wednesday's game but he remains under medical observation and his availability for the upcoming semi-final is uncertain.

The decision was made to bring Styris into the squad today because of the pressures of timing and travel requirements, and to ensure he has time to acclimatise and prepare if required. A final decision on replacement will be made before Sunday and will be subject to ICC approval.

Styris is the only current BLACKCAP to have played in the side which won the Champions Trophy in 2000. He has played 157 One Day Internationals, scoring at an average of 32.58, and bowling with an economy rate of 4.75. His last ODI appearance for the BLACKCAPS was against India at Auckland in March.

New Zealand is scheduled to play the second semifinal of the Champions Trophy on Saturday [3 October] local time (Sunday morning NZ time) against Pakistan, the second qualifier from Group A.