A groin strain has claimed another New Zealand cricketer in the West Indies with opening batsman Daniel Flynn ruled out of the second Test.

Flynn suffered damage to his right adductor muscle, the same injury that on Wednesday ruled veteran spin bowler Daniel Vettori out of the Test starting in Kingston on Friday morning (NZT).

The Black Caps lost the first test by nine wickets in Antigua, where Flynn made solid contributions of 45 and 20.

Team physiotherapist Paul Close said Flynn suffered his grade one strain on the last day of that Test and had responded well to treatment initially.

“We felt there was a reasonable chance he would be fit to play but his progress over the past 24 hours plateaued,” Close said in a New Zealand Cricket statement.

“He was still experiencing pain during the team training session today with a subsequent fitness test ruling him out.

“We are confident he will be fully fit in time for the upcoming tour of India.”

Flynn’s absence may see Brendon McCullum revert to his former role as opener, alongside the in-form Martin Guptill.

McCullum admitted New Zealand’s hopes of levelling the series had taken a massive blow due to Vettori’s misfortune – which could yet rule the veteran out of New Zealand’s next Test assignment against India, which begins on August 23 in Hyderabad.

McCullum was well aware the hole left by the left-arm spinner, who has 360 wickets in Test cricket to his name, will be difficult to fill.

“It’s a huge loss, not just the performance on the field which he’s done for a number of years consistently and really led us from that point of view, but also what he offers in the change-room and when we’re out on the field,” McCullum said.

Tarun Nethula could make his Test debut but a first-class average of just over 15 with the bat will cause concern for the balance of New Zealand’s side, with Vettori nearly doubling that in his career.