In a setback for New Zealand’s cricket team, veteran fast bowler Tim Southee has suffered a severe blow to his World Cup dreams. Southee, a crucial part of the Kiwi bowling attack, broke a bone in his right thumb while fielding during the fourth One-Day International (ODI) against England at Lord’s on September 15, 2023.
The injury has left New Zealand’s coaching staff and fans anxiously awaiting the verdict on Southee’s fitness. Head coach Gary Stead, in a recent statement, revealed that the final decision regarding Southee’s participation in the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 in India would be made after the pacer consults with specialists back home.
Stead said
“Until then, we can’t make a call around the World Cup,” he added.
Stead emphasized the importance of understanding the timeframe for Southee’s recovery before making a definitive call about his World Cup inclusion. The coach expressed optimism by stating that Southee would be given “every chance” to prove his fitness for the prestigious tournament.
“We’ll just need to understand the timeframes and what that looks like and once we have that information, we will then be able to move forward and make a decision,” Stead further said.
“We’ll want to give Tim every chance of proving his fitness,” said Stead. “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.”
However, there remains an element of uncertainty due to the nature of the injury. Southee’s road to recovery will require not only healing but also regaining the ability to catch balls and bowl effectively. The next 10 to 12 days are expected to be critical in assessing his progress.
New Zealand’s immediate schedule includes three ODIs in Bangladesh starting on September 21, followed by World Cup warm-up matches against Pakistan on September 29 and South Africa on October 2. Their World Cup campaign begins on October 5 against defending champions England in Ahmedabad, India.
The absence of Tim Southee, a seasoned campaigner with a wealth of experience, would be a significant blow to New Zealand’s World Cup aspirations. His ability to swing the ball and pick up crucial wickets has been instrumental in the team’s success over the years.
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