In a race against time, New Zealand’s cricketing hero, Kane Williamson, is striving to recover from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in time for the 50-overs World Cup in India later this year. The 32-year-old captain underwent surgery in early April, which cast doubts on his availability for the prestigious tournament.
In a recent development, Kane Williamson was seen back in the nets on Tuesday, facing throwdowns as he attempts to regain his fitness and form. He shared a glimpse of his practice session on Instagram, captioning it with, “Nice to be back in the nets with the bat in hand for a few throws.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Williamson’s participation, New Zealand coach Gary Stead remains hopeful. He asserted that while the chances of Williamson being available are slim, the team doesn’t want to rule out the possibility of having a player of his class and calibre in the World Cup.
Having led the team to the final of the 2019 World Cup, Kane Williamson’s presence holds immense importance for New Zealand. Even if he is unable to make it as a player, media reports suggest that he might still travel to India in a mentor’s capacity, supporting the team from the sidelines.
The Kiwis will face England in the tournament opener on October 5th in Ahmedabad, presenting a chance for redemption after their heartbreaking loss in the 2019 final, where England clinched victory based on a now-scrapped boundary countback rule.
Williamson’s potential return to the World Cup is a topic of interest among cricket enthusiasts, and fans eagerly await updates on his recovery progress. As the tournament draws closer, the cricketing world will keep a close eye on Kane Williamson’s fitness updates, hoping to witness the star batsman grace the field in India.
