Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team, has shed light on Kane Williamson’s ongoing recovery from injury, revealing that the team will closely monitor his fitness over the next two weeks before making a definitive call on his participation in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Kane Williamson sustained an injury during the inaugural match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. While attempting to prevent a boundary, the New Zealand skipper had to leave the field prematurely, subsequently ruling him out from the remainder of the 16th edition of the IPL.
The New Zealand squad has encountered a significant setback as all-rounder Michael Bracewell has also been ruled out of the ODI World Cup due to injury. Despite reaching the final in the previous two editions of the ODI World Cup, New Zealand remains determined to secure their first-ever World Cup trophy.
Addressing the press before the commencement of the England tour, Gary Stead delivered a substantial update on Kane Williamson’s status. Stead affirmed that no immediate changes have been made, and the team intends to provide Williamson with ample time to regain full fitness.
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“As of now, we have approximately two weeks until we finalize the squad. The current situation remains unchanged. We are committed to affording Kane every opportunity and utilizing the entire duration to assess his fitness,” stated the Kiwi head coach.
Furthermore, Gary Stead mentioned that Kane Williamson has resumed batting practice in the nets, which is an encouraging sign. However, Stead emphasized that there remains a substantial amount of rehabilitation work to ensure Williamson’s complete recovery.
“He is actively engaged in the rehabilitation process and has resumed batting sessions in the nets, which is certainly promising. His progress is positive, but there are still essential milestones to achieve for him to meet our requirements. Thus, we will allocate the full two-week period to evaluate his condition. It’s a slightly speculative situation for us, as we anticipate his readiness,” Gary Stead elaborated.
New Zealand’s campaign in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will commence with a match against England on October 5th at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The cricketing world eagerly awaits the final verdict on Kane Williamson’s participation, a decision that could significantly impact New Zealand’s World Cup journey.
