Road to recovery: Injured New Zealand star returns to nets as CWC23 nears
Anticipation builds as New Zealand’s white-ball captain was seen batting in the nets in a video he posted on Instagram, hinting at a return from a major injury just in time for this year’s marquee event.
New Zealand’s white-ball captain and star batter Kane Williamson could be in line to make his comeback from a right-knee injury ahead of the fast-approaching ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in October-November.
Video cwc19 13 Jun 19 02:44 Kane Williamson: Leading from the front
Williamson, who led his side to the World Cup Final in 2019, ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while fielding for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in April this year. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in New Zealand and was going through rehabilitation.
“Nice to be back in the nets with the bat in hand for a few throws,” said Williamson in his latest video, hinting at a much-anticipated return to action.
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The Blackcaps skipper was his side’s highest run-getter in the 2019 World Cup with 578 runs at 82.57, featuring two centuries and two fifties, and was also adjudged Player of the Tournament.
Video cwc19 14 Jul 19 00:46 CWC19 Final: NZ v ENG – Kane Williamson, Player of the Tournament
His return to the World Cup fold would be a major boost for the Kiwis, who have been in great form in ICC tournaments lately – two 50-over World Cup Final appearances in 2015 and 2019, World Test Championship winners in 2021 and in the same year, they were also the finalists of the T20 World Cup.
Video ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 14 Nov 21 03:15 Kane Williamson’s record-equalling knock
New Zealand kickstart their World Cup campaign with the tournament opener against the 2019 champions England, on 5 October, at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad with the final scheduled to be played at the same venue on 19 November.
