Kane Williamson’s Inclusion in the New Zealand Squad for World Cup 2023

The veteran batter has played only 12 ODIs since the end of the 2019 Cricket World Cup final but remains a vital part of the fifty-overs squad and has a phenomenal record in the format.

Williamson has made sufficient progress in his recovery, which allowed him to be included in the squad for the tournament starting in October. However, exactly when Williamson will be able to return to action is still uncertain. He has been training with the New Zealand team in their tour of England, although he isn’t part of the squad. As he recovers from knee surgery, Williamson hopes to be in New Zealand’s plans immediately. 

“Through this entire process, I have tried to keep an open mind on when I might be able to return to cricket and not get too focused on one date or match. Being selected doesn’t change that and I know there’s still work to do and day-by-day goals to tick off to get back on the field with the team,” Williamson told reporters.

Kane Williamson’s Injury:

Williamson suffered a knee injury on March 31 while fielding for Gujarat Titans (GT) during the opening Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). His injury occurred as he leaped near the boundary in an attempt to catch a ball destined for six, resulting in an awkward landing on his right leg, prompting an immediate grasp of his knee. As a consequence, the 33-year-old returned to New Zealand and underwent surgery in June. Since his surgery, Williamson has undergone rehabilitation and missed the Blackcaps’s international season. He was notably absent from the Kiwi squads for the ODI and T20I series against England.

Gary Stead Confident about Williamson’s Comeback:

“Kane has applied phenomenal dedication to his rehabilitation and has been supported by a strong group of experts around him. He’s left no stone unturned in trying to get back to playing cricket at the highest level. We are delighted to be in a place to select him. At the same time, he’s also kept perspective about his recovery and hasn’t wanted to rush or force his way back too early. As we’ve previously said, it’s great he wants to play cricket for New Zealand in the long term. As we’ve said throughout this process we want to give Kane every bit of available time to aid his recovery. The World Cup is not a short tournament and we will continue to monitor his progress over the next month ahead of the first tournament match,” head coach Gary Stead said.

Kane– New Zealand’s Key Asset:

Williamson has scored more than 6,500 runs in one-day international cricket. In the 2019 global showpiece event, Williamson was a standout performer, amassing 578 runs in nine innings and playing a pivotal role as both captain and batter in steering his team to the final. Additionally, he played a significant role in his team’s journey to the final in the 2015 edition of the ODI World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand.

The upcoming World Cup is scheduled to kick off with a showdown between New Zealand and England, the finalists from the previous edition, on October 5 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. New Zealand will announce their 15-member CWC squad on September 11.