New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said captain Kane Williamson is expected to recover well from his persisting elbow issue for the start of his team’s T20 World Cup campaign but must continue taking a few precautions.
Williamson has been managing an elbow problem since the home summer of 2020-21 earlier this year when had to be rested for the limited-overs series versus Bangladesh. He was then benched for the start of the Indian leg of IPL 2021 and also skipped the second Test of the England tour in Edgbaston.
The modern-day batting giant has been going through extensive rehab for his longstanding injury but has needed timely breaks as well to ensure he doesn’t aggravate the problem.
Williamson took another short break when he missed New Zealand’s first warm-up game against the Netherlands on Saturday (October 16) – eight days after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s final game of IPL 2021 – which was also down to a niggle in his hamstring.
And though the skipper turned out against Australia for the second warm-up game on October 18 and made an encouraging 30-ball 37, Stead hinted, he aggravated his injury to an extent and now must apply extra caution heading into New Zealand’s first Super 12 game on October 26 against Pakistan in Sharjah.
“I think we’re still pretty hopeful and confident that if we get the rest right, initially here now, and get that balance right then he should be right to play.
“I mean Kane is a prodigious hitter of balls, he loves to prepare that way as well, and in some ways that’s probably the worst thing he can do, is over-hit at times.”
Stead was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo, as Williamson opted not to bat in the third warm-up match against England on Wednesday (October 20).
Stead added that the team management’s focus with Williamson is on ensuring he finds the right “balance” in terms of pushing himself in the nets and making sure he doesn’t go through the drills too hard. The coach wants the captain to be especially wary of over-hitting the ball, which may damage his elbow.
Williamson also confirmed that he hasn’t been able to apply optimum force behind his strokes in this phase. It affected his flow throughout the IPL 2021, where he did make 266 runs at 44.33 per innings but had a strike-rate of only 113.19.
