New Zealand hasn’t ruled out Kane Williamson from the ODI World Cup 2023 just yet, despite the batter not being named in the ODI series against England starting next month. While talking with reporters in Auckland, New Zealand Head Coach Gary Stead said they haven’t ruled their skipper and star batter out yet and are monitoring his fitness day by day.
“Kane’s working on a day-by-day, week-by-week process and we’ve been really clear and careful with him that we don’t look too far ahead and get expectations too big or not big enough at times as well,” Stead said while talking to reporters on Wednesday.
Stead said New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is getting medical advice and will make the decision on whether Willaimson will go to India for the World Cup 2023 or not.
“We will take every measure we can to make sure that we get the medical advice that lines up and he’s where we want him to be before we make that call on whether he goes (to India for the World Cup) or not.”
“I think that’s something we are talking about at the moment. If it’s the knockout stages, I think that might be too late because you’re really saying something that you may or may not even be there, but if it was earlier in the World Cup we’d definitely be considering it.” Stead further added on the possibility of Williamson playing in the later half of the tournament.
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The Black Caps have to name their 15-man squad for the World Cup 2023 by September 5, which is less than a month away.
“Obviously with the knee and the way it is we have to be careful with how that twists, so he’s still in that healing and rehab phase, so it’s getting that fine balance between pushing him as far as he can go but making sure we don’t cross that line and do more damage,” Gary Stead said on Kane’s rehab.
“He’s progressed as we’ve hoped and possibly even better in some cases but you know with ACL injuries that they can be difficult, and different for every person as well.
“As I said, we’ll try and get the medical experts around Kane as much as we can to help us make that decision in about three weeks’ time,” Stead added.
Last edition finalists New Zealand will begin their campaign against defending champions England in the World Cup 2023 opener on October 5.
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