New Zealand is entirely committed to providing adequate chances for seasoned cricketer Kane Williamson to prove his physical fitness before the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup journey in India. He’s been permitted a span of two weeks to exhibit his fitness level. Once this period finishes, the Black Caps will finalize their squad for this highly anticipated tournament.
The 33-year-old Kane Williamson had initially faced the minimum odds of appearing in this year’s World Cup. He encountered a setback when he suffered a ruptured ACL in his right knee during the opening match of IPL 2023, where he was playing for Gujarat Titans against Chennai Super Kings.
However, there’s been a recent upsurge in his recovery process as he attempts to represent his nation in the World Cup 2023. Lately, he’s been making tremendous progress and has rejoined his teammates in the nets for batting practice. This preparation is in line with the vital white-ball series against England, starting on August 30th.
According to New Zealand coach Gary Stead, Williamson’s journey back to full fitness is on the correct track. Yet, there are still a few barriers he needs to cross before being considered for the selection. The team’s captain, who wields major power, is making good progress, but there are certain elements that need to be addressed before a choice is made.
“(We have) got about two weeks from now until we name that side. (We are) going to give him every chance and use that full amount of time. He’s in full rehab mode, he’s back batting in the nets again which is great to see. He’s progressing really well but again there’s a lot of work for him still to do to make sure he gets to where we need him to be,” Stead told reporters ahead of the England series.
Teams can submit their preliminary squad list by September 5th for the 13th edition of the World Cup. The final lists must be submitted by September 28th, with any squad changes requiring approval from the ICC beyond that date.
Williamson has been a part of three World Cup campaigns with the Kiwis and was remarkable in the last edition, accumulating an astounding 578 runs with an average of 82.57. His breadth of knowledge on the grand stage will be vital for New Zealand as they attempt to exceed their prior performances in 2023. Stead added that the team is diligently examining all options to ensure that the skipper can be part of the upcoming campaign.
“It’s still a little bit of crystal-ball gazing where he will be at. Yes, of course, we want him at the World Cup but there is that bigger picture in mind that we want Kane Williamson fit for the rest of his career.”
“They’ll be honest conversations that Kane and I will have with each other around exactly where he is at, to make sure we get the best outcome for our team but also the best outcome for Kane Williamson and his long-term career,” Stead further said.
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