At least three front-line players will miss New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa beginning next month.
New Zealand Cricket's head of cricket Lindsay Crocker confirmed skipper Brendon McCullum, allrounder Corey Anderson and pace bowler Trent Boult would not make the 24-day limited-overs tour.
A question mark also hung over young fast bowler Adam Milne and bowling spearhead Tim Southee, Crocker said.
Both Anderson and Boult are recovering from back injuries, and their return to international cricket won't be rushed.
"Trent didn't suffer a fracture, but certainly had a stressed area in his back that will require rest before reconditioning and getting back into bowling work," Crocker told NZ Newswire.
"Corey's is slightly more severe in that a small crack was detected, not a full fracture. Because it's slightly more severe than Trent's, it requires a longer rehab program."
Anderson and Boult are both expected to be ready for the tour of Australia which begins on November 5 with the first Test in Brisbane.
Crocker said Milne's foot problem had cleared, but a decision on his availability - and that of Southee - was up to the selectors, who were expected to meet within the next 10 days.
"Tim's had a really heavy workload, so that's a decision for the selectors to determine whether he'd benefit longer term from a break from that tour, much the same as Brendon."
BLACK CAPS TOUR DATES:
Aug 2: v Zimbabwe, ODI, Harare
Aug 4: v Zimbabwe, ODI, Harare
Aug 7: v Zimbabwe, ODI, Harare
Aug 9: v Zimbabwe, T20, Harare
Aug 14: v South Africa, T20, Durban
Aug 16: v South Africa, T20, Centurion
Aug 19: v South Africa, ODI, Centurion
Aug 23: v South Africa, ODI, Potchefstroom
Aug 26: v South Africa, ODI, Durban
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