New Zealand v England: Graeme Swann out of Test series

Graeme Swann

England spinner Graeme Swann has been ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand with an elbow injury.

The 33-year-old will have surgery in the United States next week in a bid to cure the longstanding problem.

Fellow off-spinner James Tredwell will fly out to New Zealand to join the touring squad.

Swann was replaced by slow left-armer Monty Panesar for the first Test in Dunedin, the first day of which was washed out.

An ECB statement read: "Swann will travel to the United States next week to have an operation and will then undergo a period of rehabilitation allowing an anticipated return to competitive cricket in the early summer."

Swann revealed earlier on Tuesday his fears that the injury, which was operated on in 2009, could keep him out of the two Ashes series against Australia this year.

"The elbow is always a concern," he wrote. "It's been hanging over me for several years and the problem hasn't entirely gone away.

"This year of all years, I don't want the elbow to cause any problems. I want to be fit for as much Test cricket as possible and, fingers crossed, I will be."

Before this match, Swann had missed only three of England's 53 Tests since his debut in India in December 2008.

He was rested for the one-day series in India before Christmas, but played in the three ODIs against New Zealand last month.

However, he complained of stiffness during the defeat by a New Zealand XI in the four-day warm-up match.

This Test is the first in a three-match series also featuring games in Wellington and Auckland.