New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will continue to watch from the sidelines in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against South Africa in Pune, scheduled for Wednesday.
Despite making recent appearances in the practice nets over the past couple of days, Williamson has been declared unfit for a return to match action in the forthcoming contest.
His potential availability for the subsequent match against Pakistan remains contingent upon further evaluation by the medical team.
The 2023 World Cup has presented significant challenges for the New Zealand cricket team, with injuries afflicting two of their pivotal players, Williamson and Lockie Ferguson.
Williamson faced a particularly arduous journey. Following a prolonged absence from international cricket due to a knee injury, he made a promising comeback during a match against Bangladesh on October 13.
Leading his team to an impressive eight-wicket victory while scoring a remarkable 78 runs, his comeback was marred by a regrettable incident. During a quick single run, he was struck by a throw from the field directly onto his left glove, resulting in immediate pain and swelling.
Despite initial efforts to continue playing, the severity of the pain compelled him to retire hurt. Subsequent medical examinations revealed an undisplaced fracture in his left thumb, ruling him out of action until the later stages of the World Cup's group stage. In his absence, Tom Blundell was named as his replacement.
Meanwhile, Lockie Ferguson also faced injury woes during the tournament. In the match against Australia, Ferguson had to exit the field after bowling just three overs, having conceded 38 runs. He reported experiencing pain in his right Achilles, which proved severe enough to prevent his return to the match.
- Kane Williamson