Gary Stead, New Zealand’s coach, provided an update on Kane Williamson’s availability, stating that he should be ready to play from the team’s third match in the 2023 World Cup. Stead also gave injury updates regarding Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson. Williamson (knee), Southee (thumb) and Ferguson (stiff back) were all unavailable for selection for New Zealand’s opening match of the World Cup against England.
“Kane’s been progressing very well,” said Stead on Sunday, a day before the team took on the Netherlands. “I think the fielding is still the element for him that he’s just got to get a little bit higher, and he gets a little bit more trust in his body.
“But he’s progressing really well, and we are pretty confident that he will be playing the third match (against Bangladesh) for us. We’ve got another training to get through today, so we’ll finalise the team (for the match against Netherlands) once we’ve got through that training.
The news was more positive with regard to the two pace bowlers. “Lockie Ferguson got through training really well so providing he scrubbed up okay this morning, he will be available for this next game,” said Stead. “Tim Southee also got through the training really well. It was great to see him back at the bowling crease, and also doing a little bit of fielding as well. He will just get a final X-ray done this morning and we will make a call after that but it is all looking good for selection from now on and into the rest of the tournament.”
After a comprehensive nine-wicket win over England, New Zealand sit atop the table on two points. Their fixture against the Netherlands on October 9 will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.