Injury rules Guptill out of NZ tour opener

Martin Guptill's bid to return to New Zealand's Test team has hit a speed bump after injury ruled him out of the opening tour game against Somerset.

Opening batsman Guptill, who has been in prolific form for England county Derbyshire, suffered a side strain during his innings of 227 against Gloucestershire in Bristol last week.

Black Caps medical staff have ruled the 28-year-old out of the four-day game against Somerset in Taunton starting on Friday.

Team physiotherapist James Montgomery says Guptill will be reassessed ahead of the second and final warm-up game against Worcester starting on May 14, one week ahead of the first Test at Lord's.

Image Id: ~/media/075A4F555E3D45878672BEC1704D2B5FMartin Guptill was the leading run scorer at the World Cup // Getty Images

Montgomery says the small tear to the opener's abdominal muscle could take 2-3 weeks to heal but he is optimistic of a faster recovery.

"We are hopeful that we will be able get Martin ready to play at Worcester but we will see how he recovers," Montgomery said.

"With good treatment and a reduced workload, the goal is to get him back on the park for some game time so he is available for selection for the first Test."

Guptill was the leading run-scorer at the World Cup, tallying 547 runs including an unbeaten 237 in the quarter-final against the West Indies.

That form has him back in the frame for a Test recall, having not played for two years.

He is locked in a battle with incumbent Hamish Rutherford for the second opening berth alongside Tom Latham.