Kane Williamson Returns as New Zealand Reveals 15-Member World Cup 2023 Squad
Trent Boult and Kane Williamson in action [X.com]
In a big relief for New Zealand, Kane Williamson has regained fitness and will be featuring for the Black Caps in the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) revealed their 15-member senior men's squad for the marquee event.
Williamson will lead New Zealand after making a recovery from an ACL injury the batter suffered in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 while playing for Gujarat Titans.
Interestingly, the 33-year-old is the only captain remaining from the 2019 edition, where New Zealand finished as runner's up.
As expected, pacer Trent Boult has been named in the squad alongside Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, and James Neesham. Fast bowler Adam Milne and wicketkeeper-batter Finn Allen miss the bus to India.
Keeper-batter Tom Latham will don the vice-captain's hat.
Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, and Glenn Phillips will have been handed their maiden World Cup call-ups as Williamson and Southee gear to play their fourth.
The CWC will start on October 5 and end on November 19, with the Kiwis beginning their campaign in the tournament opener in a clash against defending champions England.
In a statement, however, head coach Gary Stead stated that Williamson's availability for the encounter against England remains unclear.
Here's what Stead said
"We haven't put a date on whether he will be available for that first game or not. That's still three or four weeks away and time will tell a little bit closer, but he is doing everything in his powers to make that happen."
New Zealand Squad
Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young
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