New Zealand’s Tim Southee’s World Cup Participation in Doubt Due to Thumb Injury
New Zealand’s fast bowler, Tim Southee, faces an uncertain road to the World Cup in India next month as he recovers from a thumb injury. Head coach Gary Stead has indicated that Southee will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness, but a final decision will hinge on consultations with specialists in New Zealand.
Southee sustained the injury while attempting to take a catch in the fourth ODI against England last week. The 34-year-old’s right thumb was fractured during the incident, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming World Cup.
Coach Gary Stead expressed the team’s cautious approach, saying, “Until then, we can’t make a call around the World Cup. We’ll just need to understand the time frames and what that looks like, and once we have that information, we will then be able to move forward and make a decision.”
He added, “We’ll want to give Tim every chance of proving his fitness. There will be an element of the unknown being that it’s a bone fracture, and at some stage he will have to start catching balls and bowling again. The healing process in the next 10 to 12 days will be pretty important for him as well,” Stead told reporters.
The New Zealand cricket team, also known as the Black Caps, recently suffered a 1-3 defeat in the ODI series against England. They have now traveled to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series, which is set to commence on Thursday. Following the series in Bangladesh, the Black Caps will engage in World Cup warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa on September 29 and October 2, respectively, before kicking off their World Cup campaign against England on October 5.
Tim Southee, who last participated in the ODI World Cup when it was held in India in 2011, will be making his fourth appearance in the tournament. Teams competing in the World Cup have the flexibility to make changes to their 15-player squads until September 28, with any alterations beyond that date requiring approval from the ICC.
New Zealand’s 2019 World Cup campaign ended in heartbreak as they lost to England on boundary count in the final at Lord’s after a tie-breaking Super Over failed to produce a clear winner.
(This story has not been edited by Smartkhabrinews staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
| Player | Injury | Recovery Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Southee | Thumb Injury | Under Evaluation |
World Cup Preparation
The New Zealand cricket team is currently in a state of uncertainty as they await updates on Tim Southee’s thumb injury. His participation in the World Cup will depend on his recovery progress, which will be assessed by specialists in New Zealand.
Coach’s Perspective
Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand team, emphasized their commitment to giving Tim Southee every opportunity to regain fitness. However, the nature of the bone fracture makes it challenging to predict the timeline for his return to full cricketing activities.
Upcoming Matches
The Black Caps have a busy schedule ahead with a three-match ODI series in Bangladesh and World Cup warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa. Their campaign in the World Cup commences on October 5 against England.
Previous World Cup Heartbreak
New Zealand’s previous World Cup journey ended in a dramatic final against England in 2019, where they suffered defeat on the boundary count after a thrilling Super Over.