New Zealand cricket captain Ross Taylor was ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe series on Saturday due to a calf strain which forced him to retire hurt on 122 in the first innings of the one-off Test in Napier.

Taylor was attempting a quick single early on Friday as he built on his sixth Test century when he tore his right calf and was forced to hobble from the field.

Following hospital treatment, Taylor said he would be sidelined for three to four weeks.

New Zealand are playing one Test, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against Zimbabwe before hosting South Africa from February 19.

“While it is early days, our target is to have Ross available for the one day series against South Africa in late February,” New Zealand physiotherapist Paul Close said.

Brendon McCullum takes over as New Zealand captain for the remainder of the Test.