Brendon McCullum has admitted that New Zealand will struggle to cope with the loss of the injured Daniel Vettori in the second Test against West Indies.

The spinner has been sent home after suffering an adductor injury in the first Test defeat in Antigua, and McCullum concedes that his teammate's absence will leave a big hole in the dressing room.

McCullum said: "It's a huge loss, not just the performance on the field which he's done for a number of years consistently and really led us from that point of view, but also what he offers in the change-room and when we're out on the field.

"You know you've got that experience to call on for some of the younger bowlers. He's had a phenomenal career and we hope he rests up and gets himself recuperated and comes back in a couple of months' time for us and we're able to get him back into a team that's performing a bit better than we have of late."

New Zealand need a win in Jamaica to level the two-match series after the Windies' nine-wicket triumph in the first game.