Williamson injury not ‘career-threatening’
Kane Williamson is expected to be ready for the first test against England, despite being ruled out of the five-match Twenty20 series.
The Black Caps captain and star batsman will miss the start of the home summer, beginning with the first T20 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval next Friday, due to a lingering right hip injury.
In his absence, Tim Southee, who guided New Zealand to a 2-1 away T20 series win over Sri Lanka in September, will again lead the side.
Williamson’s hip problem had bothered him on and off for the past 18 months. It is the same issue that ruled him out for the final test against Bangladesh in March, which was abandoned after the Christchurch mosque shootings.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead confirmed Williamson wouldn’t need surgery and wasn’t concerned about his chances of missing the opening test against England in Mt Maunganui, starting November 21.
The injury bothered Williamson mostly when fielding, especially in the gully, and didn’t affect his batting, Stead said.
Williamson played in the opening round of the Plunket Shield this week for Northern Districts against Canterbury in Christchurch, scoring 26 in his lone innings.
Stead spoke with Williamson after the match and both agreed he would benefit from some rest, leading into a busy summer, which includes an away test series against Australia in December-January.
‘‘Kane has managed this through
At a glance
Black Caps T20 squad: Tim Southee (c), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.
quite a period of time. It’s certainly not career-threatening or anything like that,’’ Stead said.
‘‘It’s just a matter of letting it settle down. I’m very hopeful he’ll be right for the test series.’’
Williamson’s hip injury had flared up at different stages over the last year. Had New Zealand been playing in a pinnacle series, Stead believed he would have been fine to play.
The 29-year-old was outstanding with the bat in New Zealand’s run to the Cricket World Cup final, finishing as the tournament’s fourth leading run scorer with 578 at 82.57 with two centuries and two fifties.
‘‘I think the most important thing is now he gets himself right or as close to right as we can with the season that’s ahead for us. It’s just a matter of him hopefully resting it and seeing some improvement in it.’’
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert will be used in the top three for the T20s with the exact order to be finalised.
Features of the T20 squad include a recall for allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who last played for New Zealand in T20 in January, 2017.
Central Stags seamer Blair Tickner has also been named, having played his lone T20 international against India in Hamilton in February, taking 1-34 from four overs.
‘‘He’s a big, strong strapping lad and hopefully he’ll add a bit of pace and variation to our [bowling] order,’’ Stead said.
Quick Lockie Ferguson had recovered from a fractured thumb and will play the opening three T20s with Trent Boult replacing him for the final two matches.