Michael Bracewell, New Zealand spin-bowling all-rounder is set to miss the upcoming 50-over World Cup to be held in India in October-November after suffering a right achilles injury in a T20 Blast game against Yorkshire. He will undergo a surgery in the United Kingdom this week, and is expected to be on the sidelines for 6-8 months.
The all-rounder, who was playing for Worcestershire, sustained the injury while batting. “Michael’s a great team man and has had a fantastic 15 months for the BlackCaps since his international debut. We’ve seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game and he was shaping as an important player for us at the world cup in India,” said New Zealand coach Gary Stead. “Michael’s naturally pretty disappointed, but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”
To make matters worse for New Zealand, Kane Williamson, the ODI skipper, also looks set to miss the World Cup, after injuring his knee in the IPL 2023. Bracewell has played eight Tests, 19 ODIs and 16 T20Is for his country. In ODIs, he has scored 510 runs at an average of 42.50, and more importantly, at an impressive strike rate of 118.6. The highlight of his brief ODI career came against India in Hyderabad, when he notched up a brilliant 140. Bracewell has also bagged 15 wickets in the ODI format. Michael, cousin of New Zealand pace bowler Doug Bracewell, was also named the New Zealand ODI player of the year in March this year.