New Zealand issue fitness update on Kane Williamson
Williamson is a member of New Zealand's 15-member squad for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup despite injuring his knee during the IPL. In order to ensure his full recovery, the New Zealand team management have decided that Williamson will miss the Blackcaps' tournament opener against England on October 5 in Ahmedabad.
Williamson will feature as a batter-only in New Zealand's warm-up match against Pakistan in Hyderabad today and will aim to bat and field in the second warm-up fixture against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram. But New Zealand are adopting a patient approach with their talisman, in order to ensure that he comes back all guns firing, sooner rather than later.
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Speaking on Williamson's fitness, head coach Gary Stead said, "Right from the start we’ve taken a long-term view on Kane’s return to play. His recovery is tracking well and it’s now a matter of making sure he can cope with the rigours and intensity of international cricket.
"We’ll continue to take a day-by-day approach to Kane’s rehabilitation and certainly won’t be putting any pressure on him to return before he is ready," Stead concluded.
Wicketkeeper-batter Tom Latham will lead the side in Williamson's absence.