New Zealand captain Kane Williamson intends to participate in the ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up matches leading up to the mega event as he slowly returns to action following a six-month absence.
His absence resulted from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained during the first IPL game in March. Recently, he was continuing his rehabilitation with the New Zealand team in England and reported that he was progressing well, although he still experiences some pain.
"It's [about] working through those warm-up games to get as much out of it as I can - personally and as a team - without sort of bothering too much," Williamson said on Wednesday before the team's departure for India. "There is a strong desire to basically be involved in those as much as I can; we've got two of them before our first competition game. And basically, it's just wanting to progress [with] what I am doing now - the running, the fielding, and also time in the middle with the bat.
"The load is going to keep increasing, so there is a little bit of an unknown. But it has felt pretty good really in the last few weeks, [I'm] hoping it continues to feel like that," he added.
As he races against time to be ready for New Zealand's World Cup opening game against England on October 5 in Ahmedabad, Williamson acknowledged that he still faces certain challenges. However, before that crucial match, New Zealand will be playing warm-up fixtures against Pakistan on September 29 and South Africa on October 2.
"Not so much the sprinting; more the slowing actually," Williamson said of the challenges in recovery. "From sprinting to braking, and a little bit of change of direction. But it's all been part of the plan, introducing it towards the end of the recovery. Having said that, there's still obviously time to go with the overall part of it, and keep trying to bank on good days because the rule's pretty much helpful in terms of just moving forward with it."
Due to the injury, Williamson is also reevaluating his fielding position and is leaning towards not fielding at slip.
"We will definitely consider some of that," he said. "Where I field is usually at mid-off, which will probably remain the case. Probably slightly better suited to it than square of the wicket. Potentially some slip, but I won't be standing there if we don't require one."
Earlier, New Zealand's pace veteran Tim Southee received medical clearance to rejoin the side.
He made a significant step in his recovery from surgery on his fractured right thumb. Southee sustained the injury when he dropped Joe Root at gully during the final ODI of the recent series against England at Lord's last Friday. Following the incident, he immediately left the field and was subsequently scheduled for surgery.
In a precautionary measure, the talented pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson will also travel to India this week as cover to train with the World Cup squad. Since he isn't included in the World Cup squad, he won't be participating in the warm-up matches.
New Zealand’s squad for the World Cup
Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Will Young.
