Kane Williamson, star New Zealand batter and captain, aims to put his surgically repaired knee to the test in this week’s World Cup warmup games as he prepares for a long-awaited comeback to cricket after a lengthy injury-enforced absence. It’s unclear whether he’ll play both the warm-up games in Hyderabad (against. Pakistan) and Trivandrum (vs. South Africa), but the 33-year-old hopes to increase his workload in the run-up to the World Cup opener against England.
“There is a strong desire to be involved as much as I can,” he stated before the cricket team’s departure from Christchurch for India. “Basically, it’s just wanting to progress what I am doing now – the running, the fielding, time in the middle with the bat.”
Williamson, who ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament while playing for Gujarat Titans in the opening match of the IPL 2023 and hasn’t played professionally since, claimed that it wasn’t completely discomfort. “Even though everything is going well, you still have days that fluctuate slightly. So it’s working through those warm-up games to get as much out of it as I can, individually and as a team, without overburdening it. Although the load is expected to rise further, there remains some uncertainty. But it’s felt incredibly fantastic in the previous few weeks.
“Not so much the sprinting,” Williamson remarked of the most difficult element of his recuperation journey. “It’s more of a slowing,” Williamson explained. “From sprinting to braking to a slight change of direction.” It’s all part of the plan, and it’ll be implemented near the conclusion of recovery.”
Given the severity of his injuries, Williamson stated that he may have to reassess his fielding position. “We will definitely consider some of that,” he added. “I usually field at mid-off, and that will probably continue.” It’s perhaps better suited to it than the square of the wicket. There could be some slippage, but I won’t be standing there if we don’t need one.”
Meanwhile, head coach Gary Stead welcomed the return of both Williamson and Tim Southee for the World Cup. The experienced seamer, who shattered a bone in his right thumb while fielding in the fourth One-Day International against England at Lord’s on September 15, has recovered surprisingly quickly from surgery. He is now expected to play early in New Zealand’s World Cup campaign, even if the opening is too early for him.
“Tim saw a hand specialist yesterday, and the most important thing for him is that the wound heals.” “We’re still hopeful that he’ll be available for selection early in the tournament,” Stead added. “He had five pins inserted into his thumb… He’s at ease, and he’ll be ready around the first or second game.
“So far, everything has gone swimmingly. He’s met with the surgeon and a hand therapist. They suspect that he is still in pain, but he is a tough and resilient character. So we’re lucky to still have him on our team.”
