Black Caps bowling unit rocked by injury

New Zealand have suffered a huge injury blow on the cusp of their World Cup semi-final showdown with South Africa, losing explosive fast bowler Adam Milne.

Milne has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a left heel injury picked up in New Zealand's 143-run quarter-final thumping of the West Indies in Wellington on Saturday.

The 22-year-old had an MRI on his left heel on Sunday afternoon which revealed "significant swelling", the Black Caps announced.

"He will not be fit to play any further part in the tournament," blackcaps.co.nz reported. "A timeline for his return is not yet known."

Milne was the only bowler in the Black Caps squad capable of hitting the 150kph mark.

It is not the first injury Milne picked up during the World Cup. The 22-year-old right-armer missed New Zealand's final group game against Bangladesh after picking up a shoulder injury diving to make a catch against Afghanistan.

Image Id: ~/media/2A87D9F70AA24256B6828852D93BF98C

Milne's outfield catch against Afghanistan that injured his shoulder // Getty Images

He returned to the starting XI for the quarter-final where he took 1-42 in four overs, bowling the dangerous Chris Gayle.

Milne was a first-choice bowler for the Black Caps, having played all their games apart from the one missed with a shoulder complaint.

He finishes the World Cup with five wickets at 39.8, his best return the 2-56 collected in New Zealand's tournament opening match against Sri Lanka.

Mitchell McClenaghan was drafted into the starting XI to replace Milne against Bangladesh, but went wicketless, bowling eight overs for 68 runs.

Canterbury fast bowler Matt Herny has joined the team and will replace Milne in the squad, a move approved by the ICC's Event Technical Committee.

The Black Caps face South Africa at Auckland's Eden Park on Tuesday for a spot in Sunday's World Cup final.