New Zealand Hoping Kane Williamson Returns To Health For Key South Africa Conflict

New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham has hinted that Kane Williamson might be match for the 2023 World Cup conflict in opposition to South Africa on November 1 (Wednesday), scheduled to be held at Pune.

Williamson made a comeback within the World Cup after a protracted layoff following a ruptured ACL sustained throughout this 12 months’s IPL. Nevertheless, he didn’t have essentially the most memorable return as he retired damage in his first skilled sport in over six months after copping a blow to his thumb.

The Kiwi skipper, batting on 77 then, ran a good single in opposition to Bangladesh and will have been nicely brief if Najmul Hossain Shanto managed a direct hit. Whereas the ball missed the stumps, it ended up crashing into Williamson’s left thumb as a substitute, with scans later revealing a fracture.

It dominated Williamson out for New Zealand’s subsequent three video games with Tom Blundell referred to as in as cowl, albeit unofficially. Williamson was nonetheless a part of the New Zealand squad, with the administration hoping he could be match in the direction of the latter half of the version.

Latham has now supplied the newest concerning Williamson’s health a day earlier than the South Africa conflict, saying he hopes he could be “able to go” for the sport.

New Zealand are coping with plenty of harm issues within the World Cup, with Tim Southee having surgical procedure for a fractured proper thumb earlier than the match. He’s now obtainable for choice however is but to function within the match. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson walked off the sphere in opposition to Australia of their final sport with an injured proper Achilles, whereas Mark Chapman has a calf harm.

“We’ve acquired a couple of guys to get by way of a couple of health exams and as soon as we practice, we’ll have a clearer concept of what the XI seems like – so fingers crossed all these guys can get by way of a bit of labor at present at coaching and be able to go tomorrow,” Latham mentioned on the pre-match press convention.

“There’s Lockie, Kane and Mark Chapman. We’ll get by way of a bit of labor at present after which we’ll see how they pull up from a range standpoint. However yeah, clearly, Lockie went off within the final sport with a little bit of Achilles’ niggle, so fingers crossed he’ll be superb for tomorrow.”

New Zealand are at the moment third on the factors desk, with eight factors from six video games, and can enter the conflict on the again of two successive defeats. South Africa have ten factors, profitable 5 in six.

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