New Zealand’s miserable cricket tour of the West Indies took another downward turn on Wednesday when veteran spin bowler Daniel Vettori was ruled out of the second Test with injury.

Vettori strained the adductor muscle in his right thigh midway through the first Test in Antigua which the Black Caps lost by nine wickets.

Team physiotherapist Paul Close said there was no chance of the 32-year-old being fit for the second Test starting in Kingston on Friday morning (AEST).

“It was managed during the match but further assessment has indicated he will not be fully fit in time for the next Test,” Close said in a New Zealand Cricket statement.

“He will require a rest from bowling and his return date will be determined by how well he responds to the treatment.”

Vettori will return home where he will undergo rehabilitation.

The left-arm spinner was ineffective in the first Test, recording match figures of 1-127. It was his 112th Test, passing Stephen Fleming as New Zealand’s most-capped Test cricketer.

The absence of Vettori could pave the way for a Test debut for legspinner Tarun Nethula.