The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have suffered a major setback ahead of their IPL 2024 title defence, as key opener Devon Conway is set to miss the entire tournament due to a thumb injury. The 32-year-old sustained the injury during the recent T20I series against Australia and will undergo surgery this week.
Surgery and Extended Recovery Timeline
Conway’s injury requires surgery, and the expected recovery period is at least eight weeks. This timeframe effectively rules him out of the entire IPL season, which kicks off on March 22nd and is expected to conclude by the end of May.
Conway’s absence is a significant blow to CSK, as he was the Player of the Match in the 2023 IPL final against the Gujarat Titans. His solid batting at the top of the order played a crucial role in CSK’s championship run. The team management will now have to explore potential replacements for the upcoming season.
New Zealand Test Squad Updates
Meanwhile, in New Zealand‘s Test squad news, Henry Nicholls, who was initially called up as cover for Conway, will now remain with the team for the second Test against Australia. However, Neil Wagner’s hopes of a farewell Test match were dashed due to a left hamstring strain, requiring at least two weeks of rest.
As a result, he won’t be included in the squad as a replacement for the injured Will O’Rourke. New Zealand has called up Ben Sears as O’Rourke’s replacement. Sears, a young pacer with impressive potential, has yet to feature in Test cricket despite playing T20Is for the national team.
Looking Ahead for CSK and New Zealand
While the Chennai Super Kings will be looking for a suitable replacement for Conway, they will need to adjust their batting strategy without their key opener.
New Zealand, on the other hand, will hope for a swift recovery for Neil Wagner and continued development from Ben Sears as they navigate the Test series against Australia.
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