- Advertisement -
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will not play in the opening 2023 ODI World Cup match against England.
Williamson is expected to bat as a specialist in Friday’s warm-up match between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hyderabad. The goal is to field and bat in Monday’s warm-up match against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Advertisement -
“Right from the start we’ve taken a long-term view on Kane’s return to play,” New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead said. “His recovery is tracking well and it’s now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket. We’ll continue to take a day by day approach to Kane’s rehabilitation and certainly won’t be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready.“
After rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the first IPL 2023 match and requiring surgery, Williamson is making his comeback from a six-month absence. He “desire to be involved” in the World Cup warm-up matches, so he carried on with his rehabilitation in England alongside the national team.
“It’s just wanting to progress [with] what I am doing now – the running, the fielding, and also time in the middle with the bat,” Williamson had said ahead of the team’s departure to India earlier this week.
“
The load is going to keep increasing, so there is a little bit of an unknown. But it has felt pretty good really in the last few weeks, [I’m] hoping it continues to feel like that. But we’re definitely looking to touch on more stuff, [and] introducing myself into the game mode, which is something which we haven’t had the opportunity to do.” (H/ T –
ESPNCricinfo)
In Williamson’s place, Tom Latham will lead New Zealand against England in the World Cup opener on October 5 in Ahmedabad. In the two warm-up games, Latham will also take the lead, and Williamson’s only concern will be recovering in time for New Zealand’s second World Cup contest against the Netherlands on October 9.
- Advertisement - 
