Williamson gets sidelined
It seems it only rains on the Black Caps.
In the midst of a parched summer, the gloomy outlook for the New Zealand side got no better yesterday when captain Kane Williamson was ruled out of the first two matches of the threegame ODI series against India.
That added to the dampener that has been New Zealand’s lot since they headed across the Tasman in December to take on Australia in three tests.
They arrived back with their tails between legs after three thumpings and plans for a turnaround were thwarted by India and the hosts’ fallibilities in all five Twenty20 meetings. Now the World Cup runners-up will play their first two one-dayers without their leader and best batsman.
Williamson will miss today’s day-nighter in Hamilton and the Saturday encounter at Auckland’s Eden Park as he continues to be troubled by an inflamed AC joint in his left shoulder.
The skipper injured himself while fielding in the third T20 International at Seddon Park last Wednesday, before producing a superb innings of 95 but fell agonisingly short of giving his team a much-needed victory.
Without him, New Zealand lost their second successive Super Over game in Wellington last Friday and then collapsed from a winning position in Mount Maunganui on Sunday, when Williamson was a late scratching.
Team physio Vijay Vallabh said Williamson’s return to play would be managed cautiously.
‘‘Kane has had an X-ray scan which cleared him of anything serious, but it’s best for his recovery that he avoids aggravating the joint for the next few days,’’ Vallabh said. ‘‘He will . . . start batting again on Friday with the prospect of being available for game three next Tuesday.’’
Mark Chapman has replaced Williamson in the squad, with wicketkeeper-batman Tom Latham taking over the captaincy.
Latham fronted the media yesterday and gallantly answered questions on how his side might be able to stop the slump.
There were plenty of references to NZ’s thrilling World Cup campaign but Latham was as aware as anyone that only how the side performs on the park over the next week will help swing the public’s view on a flailing side that had overwhelming support six months ago.
Latham, Henry Nicholls and Jimmy Neesham should add backbone to New Zealand’s batting but the bowling unit remains without Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.
India have also suffered an injury blow with opener Rohit
Sharma being ruled out of the rest of the tour, which includes the three ODIs and two test matches. Sharma suffered a calf muscle injury in the final Twenty20 game in Mount Maunganui on Sunday night.
That will ensure the visitors field a completely different opening combination from their firstchoice Twenty20 lineup, with captain Virat Kohli saying KL Rahul will bat at five in the ODIs while also keeping wickets.