New Zealand to miss Williamson in early India Test series
Expect New Zealand to miss Kane Williamson in the early part of its Test series against India due to a groin strain.
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NEW ZEALAND TO MISS WILLIAMSON IN FIRST INDIA TEST SERIES
Expect New Zealand to miss Williamson early in the NZ-India Test series due to a groin strain that forced him to stay home.
Furthermore, the 34-year-old former team captain delayed his departure for India to recover from the injury.
Williamson will likely sit out the first Test in Bengaluru on October 16.
However, selector Sam Wells remains “hopeful” that the ex-team captain will return at some point in the second or third Test.
Williamson felt discomfort with his groin during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, where the Kiwis absorbed a 2-0 series whitewash.
BLACK CAPS TAP CHAPMAN TO REPLACE WILLIAMSON IN FIRST TEST
Moreover, the Black Caps have tapped Mark Chapman to replace Williamson in the first Test against India.
Furthermore, the uncapped batsman will join a team led by Tom Lathan, who will replace Tim Southee as New Zealand skipper.
“The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane (Williamson) to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” Wells said.
“We’re hopeful that the rehabilitation goes according to plan. Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour,” he added.
Moreover, Williamson remains New Zealand’s top Test run-scorer with 8881 runs from 102 matches at an average of 54.48.
WELLS HOPEFUL CHAPMAN WILL STEP UP IN WILLIAMSON’S ABSENCE
Furthermore, Wells remains hopeful that Chapman will step up in Williamson’s absence in the first Test.
“It provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series,” Wells said.
Moreover, that “someone” could be Chapman.
He is set to make his Test debut after playing 78 white-ball matches for the Black Caps.
The left-hander played six first-class matches for New Zealand A, highlighted by a century against India A in 2020.
However, Chapman has not played for New Zealand’s A team since 2022.
At that time, he converted 92 and 45 in a first-class match in Bengaluru.
He posted scores of 123 against Otago and 83 off 68 in his final innings against Central Districts as part of three Plunket Shield matches for Auckland last summer.
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