New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss their second match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, as head coach Gary Stead gave an injury update on Sunday.
Kane Williamson trained with the New Zealand squad after their comprehensive victory over England in the opening match but is set to remain on the sidelines.
Kane Williamson is still battling full fitness ahead of New Zealand’s clash with Netherlands. While Williamson continues to work his way back to full fitness, New Zealand are set to be buoyed by the availability of fast bowlers Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.
Williamson may return for New Zealand in the coming week and play against Bangladesh. The 33-year-old batted in New Zealand’s Cricket World Cup warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa but was not risked in the field as he continues to recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year.
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“Kane’s been progressing very well,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said on Sunday.
“I think the fielding is still the element for him that he’s just got to get a little bit higher, and he gets a little bit more trust in his body.
“But he’s progressing really well and we are pretty confident that he will be playing the third match for us.
“We’ve got another training to get through today, so we’ll finalise the team (for the match against Netherlands) once we’ve got through that training.
“But at this stage with Kane, we are looking like the third game is when he will start the tournament.”
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As for the pace duo of Ferguson and Southee, Stead is staying positive.
“Lockie Ferguson got through that training really well. So providing he’s scrubbed up ok this morning, he will be available for this next game,” Stead said.
“Tim Southee also got through the training really well. It was great to see him back at the bowling crease and also doing a little bit of fielding.
“He will just get a final x-ray done this morning and then we will make a call after that, but it’s all looking good for selection from now on and into the rest of the tournament.”
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