ICC World Cup 2023: Kane Williamson Ruled Out of Netherlands Game
Kane Williamson to miss Netherlands game | Source: X.com
After missing the 2023 World Cup opener against England, New Zealand's regular captain, Kane Williamson, is all set to miss the second match against the Netherlands. The match is scheduled to be played on Monday, October 9, at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
Williamson got hit with a bizarre injury during IPL 2023 and was out of the game for nearly half a year. However, now he's back in the New Zealand squad for the 2023 ICC World Cup, almost at full throttle. But the team management are playing it safe and not throwing him in the deep end early in the tournament.
The head coach of the New Zealand team, Gary Stead, provided an update on Kane Williamson’s availability for the upcoming game against the Netherlands in Hyderabad. Here’s what he told the media:
“Kane’s also been progressing very well – I think the fielding is still the element for him that he’s just got to get a little bit higher and get a little more trust in his body.”
Additionally, Stead mentioned that although Williamson won't be playing in the second match against the Netherlands, he expressed confidence that Williamson will be in shape for their third game against Bangladesh.
We Put England Under Pressure: Gary Stead
Tim Southee missed WC opener against England | Source: X.com
Tim Southee couldn't make it to the Cup opener in Ahmedabad as he was still recovering from a thumb injury sustained during the final ODI of the series in England last month, where his thumb was both broken and dislocated. Meanwhile, Ferguson was sidelined due to a stiff back.
However, even with three of their star players absent, New Zealand displayed no signs of concern as they convincingly crushed the reigning champions, England, in the World Cup opener, winning by nine wickets.
The credit for this resounding win goes to the outstanding centuries scored by the young batting sensation Rachin Ravindra, and their star opener Devon Conway. Here’s what Gary Stead said on New Zealand’s brilliant start to their World Cup campaign:
“It was a great way to start the tournament. To put out the performance we did was probably one of the most pleasing games I've seen in ODI cricket that we've played. We stuck to our guns, we played the style we wanted to play and we put England under pressure in our own ways.”
New Zealand is likely to stick with the same starting lineup for the match against the Netherlands, unless Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson make a full recovery and become available in time for the upcoming game.
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