Test opener Matt Horne has ruled himself out of consideration for the three Test series against Pakistan.

The Otago skipper has a viral illness that has left him struggling for energy and unable to handle the requirements of five-day matches.

New Zealand Cricket medical liaison officer Gilbert Enoka said today that Horne had been struggling over the last month with the Shell Trophy workload.

"He has been suffering severe lethargy and has been really struggling to perform in the longer form of the game," Enoka said.

Blood tests taken by NZC's medical panel have revealed Horne has a viral illness and the panel has ruled that he needs to have six to eight weeks break from hard physical exercise.

That will rule him out of consideration for the Pakistan Test series.

"For the last month Matt has been struggling to get through the Trophy games and the step up to Test cricket would put him and the team at a disadvantage," he said.

It has been a disappointing summer for Horne, who scored a century in New Zealand's first Test win over Zimbabwe in Bulawayo but who then broke a bone in his hand and was forced to miss the Test series against South Africa.

However, there have been some forceful efforts by players in the Shell Trophy competition to warrant some consideration for Horne's replacement.

The return to form of Wellington's Matthew Bell, who yesterday led his side to victory in the Shell Trophy competition, could see him recalled to the side to partner Mark Richardson.

Bell has had an outstanding summer and his hit five centuries during the Trophy summer.

He hit 844 runs during the Trophy at an average of 52.75.

Craig Spearman, who opened during the South African series, returned home and scored 611 runs at an average of 50.91 while Canterbury's Gary Stead has scored 752 runs at 44.23.

© CricInfo