Chris Drum admitted to being "gutted" when knowing his injury in the field on the third afternoon of the second Test against Pakistan would rule him out of the rest of the summer.

Drum dislocated the a/c joint in his right shoulder when stumbling after fielding the ball and rolling onto his shoulder.

"I didn't really know what had happened when I fell over. It is the first really serious injury I have had.

"It was disappointing because it had been a good fielding day all round for me," he said.

He will be out for six to eight weeks, although another look will be taken at his shoulder in 10 days to see how more definite the recovery period would be.

"I was just gutted, I couldn't believe it, and I had only bowled eight overs. I was getting ready for a big work out in the last session. It was really disappointing," he said.

Drum, playing in his first Test, took a wicket with his first legitimate ball in the game, the first being a no-ball, when Ijaz Ahmed stood on his wicket.

"I didn't see the wicket, I was chasing the ball and then heard everyone in the team cheering and the crowd cheering, and I still didn't realise what had happened because Ijaz was between me and the wicket. It was an unusual dismissal but good," he said.

Meanwhile, the decision by the New Zealand selectors to ask that a game be arranged for a group of players not involved in the Test side could prove a godsend as they seek yet another replacement.

When Central Districts qualified for the Champions Cup tournament in Perth against teams from Western Australia, South Africa and India, the selectors seized on the chance to organise a game at Lincoln University between Central Districts and a Selection XI.

With the national domestic competition having finished at the end of February, there had been no chance for possible back-up players to have a higher quality of play.

But the three days, which are likely to involve a two-day game and a one-day match, mean the selectors have the chance to ponder the form of Shayne O'Connor especially.

O'Connor has been out of top cricket for six weeks after suffering patella tendon problems. He spent a week working out at the national cricket academy two weeks ago and will play in the match.

O'Connor would be the ideal replacement but any consideration of him taking a place in the third test side will be dependent on him handling the work load.

Drum's injury was yet another blow in a season of injuries that have at times emasculated the New Zealand attack.

At no stage of the summer has the side been at full strength.

If O'Connor doesn't come through the match to the satisfaction of the selectors there would appear to be two options. One being to play Jacob Oram in Hamilton and the other to recall James Franklin.

Whatever happens, the bowlers in the second Test will welcome the prospect of some rest while Pakistan plays a three-day game with Shell Trophy winner Wellington before the last Test in Hamilton starting in nine days time.

© CricInfo