Kane Williamson’s captaincy might be replaced by Tom Latham and Tim Southee, according to NZ head coach Gary Stead. Williamson suffered an injury while playing the field in the IPL 2023 match against GT and CSK.
If their normal leader Kane Williamson is unable to become healthy in time for the ODI World Cup 2023. New Zealand would have a difficult time selecting a captain. On March 31, during the curtain-raiser of the current IPL 2023 game. Between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, Williamson was hurt while playing the field.
The right anterior cruciate ligament in the Kiwi captain’s knee was torn, and he underwent successful surgery in April. The 32-year-old’s participation at the World Cup is doubtful. Because it will probably take him at least nine months to heal. When asked about potential alternatives for their usual captain. Head coach Gary Stead mentioned Tom Latham and Test captain Tim Southee.
“That’s something that still needs to be worked out. Tim’s captain in the test team as well, but Tom’s had a lot of white-ball experience for us in the past. I thought he captained really well [in Pakistan], with a number of guys he didn’t know much about as well, and that’s always a challenge,”
Stead was quoted
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Tom Latham has steered New Zealand in 23 of the 46 matches.
Latham has steered New Zealand in 23 of the 46 matches. Since the most recent ODI World Cup in England in 2019. Williamson resigned as Test captain in December 2022 without considering the first batter.
A second-string team captained by the southpaw recently competed in T20I and ODI series in Pakistan, drawing the T20I series 2-2 and losing the ODI series 1-4.
Head coach Stead is still optimistic that Williamson can recover in time, and if not, he wants to use him as a mentor for the major competition.
The ODI World Cup 2023 will reportedly run from October 5 to November 19, however the whole schedule has not yet been made public. As a result, Stead is still eagerly anticipating the release of New Zealand’s itinerary in order to find out which locations and types of weather they will need to prepare for. The schedule will likely be made public following the conclusion of the current IPL season.
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