Having lost seamer Kyle Mills to a groin injury last week, middle-order batsman Jesse Ryder is heading home after straining his right calf.
The lefthander and occasional medium-pacer pulled up after delivering just three balls during New Zealand's two-day warmup game against Zimbabwe yesterday. A scan confirmed the injury.
Team manager Mike Sandle said Ryder would undergo a period of rehabilitation upon returning to New Zealand.
The first of two tests against Australia starts in Brisbane on December 1 and Sandle said New Zealand's medical team were confident Ryder would be fit again in time for that assignment.
Ryder has a chequered fitness history since making his international debut against England in early 2008, and he also missed one of the three ODI internationals on the current tour with a stomach problem.
The most likely candidates to carry the drinks and fill the 12th and 13th man roles for the test would appear to be spare wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling, and either offspinner Jeetan Patel or one of the four fast-medium bowlers, probably either Graeme Aldridge or Doug Bracewell.
New Zealand's two-day tour match with Zimbabwe A, played at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, finished in a draw yesterday.
