Kyle Jamieson will miss England’s last Test, New Zealand’s fast bowler is expected to return home with a stress reaction in his lower back, ruling him out of the third and final Test at Headingley next week.

After Jamieson pulled up mid-over with intense discomfort in his lower back on the third evening of the second Test, which England won by five wickets in a dramatic closing session at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, MRI scans showed the extent of his injuries.

Jamison did not return to the pitch until the fifth morning after being declared fit to bat. He batted at No. 10 in New Zealand’s second innings but was caught behind Stuart Broad for a six-ball duck.

Because he was unable to bowl, New Zealand felt his absence as England chased down a 299-run total, thanks to Jonny Bairstow’s 136 off just 92 balls and Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 75 off 70 to take a 2-0 series lead.

Jamieson, who was New Zealand’s best bowler in the five-wicket loss in the first Test at Lord’s, is projected to require four to six weeks of rest before commencing a rehabilitation program with a return to play in September or October.

Blair Tickner, a pace bowler who was with the Test side in England for their early tour games, has been brought into the squad to replace Jamieson and will travel to the UK ahead of the third Test. Neil Wagner, who has yet to play in the series, is also on New Zealand’s team.

Meanwhile, Dane Cleaver, Tickner’s domestic teammate, has been called up to the Test squad as a replacement for wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher, who has also been ruled out of the trip due to a grade-two right hamstring injury sustained when fielding as a substitute on day four of the second Test. Cleaver will be out of commission for six to eight weeks.

It’s always a bummer when players are forced to leave a trip early due to injuries “New Zealand coach Gary Stead stated. “Kyle had been so important in the first Test at Lord’s, and I know how frustrated he was that his participation in the second Test had been limited.

“Obviously, he’s a tremendous asset for us, and we’ll be careful with his recuperation to ensure he returns completely fit with plenty more crucial games to come later this year.”

The tourists’ bad luck continued with Jamieson’s injury, as they were also missing skipper Kane Williamson, who tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the second Test.

Jamieson has only missed one of New Zealand’s 17 Tests since his debut when he was rested during their triumph over England at Edgbaston last year as part of his workload management. He moved to No. 3 in the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings after taking six wickets at Lord’s last week.