New Zealand cricket team have been dealt with a massive blow ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 as right-arm pacer Tim Southee suffered a thumb injury during their last One Day International (ODI) against England on September 17.
The 34-year-old will undergo surgery and a decision on his participation in the mega event will now be taken in next week.
Southee fractured and dislocated his thumb as he was trying to take a catch.
"Tim Southee will undergo surgery this Thursday on the thumb he dislocated and fractured in the BLACKCAPS final ODI against England on Saturday," said New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in a statement on Wednesday,
"A decision on the senior pace bowler’s availability for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India will be made early next week once the results of the surgery are known."
"We've got our fingers crossed the surgery goes well for Tim," said New Zealand’s coach Gary Stead said.
"He'll have some pins or screws inserted in his right thumb and, providing the procedure is a success, it will be a matter of ensuring Tim can tolerate the pain and manage the actual wound when returning to train and play.
“Our opening game of the World Cup against England is not until October 5 in Ahmedabad, so that would be our logical target in terms of his availability. Tim's obviously a hugely experienced and important figure in our team and we want to give him every chance to be part of this World Cup campaign," he added.
After playing a four-match ODI series against England, the Kiwis have now sent their second squad to play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh which is set to begin on Thursday.
On the other hand, skipper Kane Williamson — despite being in the World Cup squad — is yet to play a competitive match after undergoing an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery he suffered during the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 16.
It must be noted that the Black Caps were the runner-ups of the World Cup after they suffered a harsh defeat against England in the 2019 World Cup final on “boundary count”.
New Zealand’s squad for 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.
- Tim Southee
