New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will miss World Cup opener against England despite hitting half-century in side’s tournament warm-up against Pakistan
- New Zealand captain Kane Williamson unlikely to be ready for World Cup opener
- Williamson hit a half-century against Pakistan in team’s World Cup warm-up
- Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the repeat clash of the epic 2019 Lord’s final against England that opens the World Cup next Thursday.
Williamson showed he is on course to return soon by hitting a half-century off Pakistan in a warm-up contest on Friday, but is not yet ready for the rigours of fielding in an international match.
When the 33-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April, it was feared he would miss the entire tournament.
However, featuring as a specialist batter in Hyderabad, he retired after hitting 54 off 50 balls against the Pakistanis, and will now step up his fitness regime.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said: ‘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.’
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson will not be ready to face England in World Cup opener
Williamson upped his recovery from injury by hitting half-century in warm-up against Pakistan
Tom Latham will captain in Ahmedabad as the Black Caps look to put an early dent in Jos Buttler’s side’s title defence, following the Super Over drama of four years ago that provided England with a first 50-over World Cup.
New Zealand open their World Cup campaign next week against England in Ahmedabad, before taking on the Netherlands.
Source: Read Full Article
