AUCKLAND (Sports Desk) - New Zealand's most explosive batsman was yesterday ruled out of the remainder of Otago's HRV Cup programme due to a lingering back injury. That layoff stretches to December 29. He damaged his back minutes before the third test against India at Nagpur began on November 20 but played. He sat out the first two ODIs which followed before returning for the last three, to limited effect. New Zealand Cricket were quiet on developments last night but a statement from the Otago association said the move was "the most commonsense approach for Brendon.