In a significant boost to the New Zealand National Cricket Team ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, experienced pacer Tim Southee has been cleared to fly to India to participate in the prestigious tournament. This development comes as excellent news for the BlackCaps, who are eyeing a successful campaign in the upcoming World Cup.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to be the 13th edition of the marquee 50-over cricket tournament and is scheduled to take place from October 5 to November 19 in India. A total of 10 teams, including New Zealand, will be competing in this cricket extravaganza.
The participating teams in the World Cup include India, South Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England, Australia, New Zealand, and Bangladesh, who qualified based on their standings in the Cricket World Cup Super League. They will be joined by Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, both of whom secured their spots after emerging victorious in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
New Zealand, who were the runners-up in the 2019 World Cup, will commence their campaign against the defending champions, England, on Thursday, October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Before the official start of the tournament, the Kiwis will participate in two warm-up matches. The first warm-up game will be against Pakistan on September 29 in Hyderabad, followed by a warm-up match against South Africa on October 2 in Thiruvananthapuram.
The news of Tim Southee’s clearance to participate in the World Cup is a massive boost for the New Zealand squad. Southee had sustained a thumb injury while fielding during the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on September 15, leading to a fracture in his right thumb. As a result, he opted for surgery to address the dislocated and fractured thumb.
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However, on Tuesday, September 26, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) provided an encouraging update on Southee’s recovery. It was announced that the veteran pacer had been given the green light to travel to India and join the national squad later in the week for the World Cup. While Southee continues to make progress in his recovery, the team has included fast bowler Kyle Jamieson as a contingency plan. It’s important to note that Jamieson is not officially part of the New Zealand World Cup squad and will only be involved in training, not in matches.
New Zealand Cricket shared the positive development on Twitter, stating, “Tim Southee’s been cleared to join the BLACKCAPS in India later this week as he continues to progress his recovery from surgery on his fractured right thumb. As a contingency, pace bowler Kyle Jamieson will also join the World Cup squad in India this week to train. #CWC23.”
The inclusion of Tim Southee, a key figure in New Zealand’s bowling attack, is expected to bolster the team’s chances in the World Cup. The experienced campaigner brings both skill and leadership to the squad, making him a valuable asset in the tournament.
Here is the New Zealand squad for the ICC World Cup 2023:
- Kane Williamson (c)
- Trent Boult
- Mark Chapman
- Devon Conway
- Lockie Ferguson
- Matt Henry
- Tom Latham
- Daryl Mitchell
- Jimmy Neesham
- Glenn Phillips
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mitch Santner
- Ish Sodhi
- Tim Southee
- Will Young
New Zealand’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023 includes several exciting matches:
- Thursday, October 5: England vs. New Zealand (Ahmedabad) at 2 pm
- Monday, October 9: New Zealand vs. Netherlands (Hyderabad) at 2 pm
- Friday, October 13: New Zealand vs. Bangladesh (Chennai) at 2 pm
- Wednesday, October 18: New Zealand vs. Afghanistan (Chennai) at 2 pm
- Sunday, October 22: India vs. New Zealand (Dharamsala) at 2 pm
- Saturday, October 28: Australia vs. New Zealand (Dharamsala) at 10:30 am
- Wednesday, November 1: New Zealand vs. South Africa (Pune) at 2 pm
- Saturday, November 4: New Zealand vs. Pakistan (Bengaluru) at 10:30 am
- Thursday, November 9: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka (Bengaluru) at 2 pm
With Tim Southee back in contention, the New Zealand team will aim to make a strong impression and compete at the highest level in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The inclusion of Southee adds depth and experience to the squad, and fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the tournament to witness some thrilling cricket action.