Kane Williamson optimistic about playing in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup opener

New Zealand skipper sounded confident about playing for New Zealand in their 2021 T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan on Tuesday, October 26 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The 31-year-old wasn’t much concerned about his hamstring injury, which he reckons “minor”. However, the Tauranga-born veteran was a tad worried with his elbow niggle.

Earlier, Gary Stead, the Black Caps’ head coach, expressed positivity about Williamson’s presence in their first match. The Kiwis’ captain said that the elbow problem has given him headaches for quite some time, but he has made steady progress in recovering.

Kane Williamson opens up on injury concerns

“Minor, (it’s) okay, progressing well. So, there are no complaints,” Williamson said on a conference call organised by the ICC.

“…it has just been a bit of a slow-burner…. quite frustrating for a long period of time. However, it has definitely improved a bit over the last two months I’ve had after the World Test Championship,” Williamson later was later quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“On rehab, it has definitely seemed to move forward, which is refreshing, but still a little bit of time to get back to a 100 per cent,” he stated.

Williamson, who last played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2021 IPL, said that he has faced issues with gripping the bat since his elbow injury.

“Basically, just gripping and then extending. …it has been frustrating certainly when it was at its worst. But the harder you grip and further you extend, the more it seems to be disruptive. Like I said there’s been a lot of improvement over the last three months, which is good,” Williamson added.

Williamson has looked in pretty decent form of late with the bat in hand. The right-hander got scores of 18, 1, 51, 11, 26 and 31 in the second leg of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates. He had also replaced David Warner as the team’s skipper earlier this year.

Williamson last played for New Zealand in the final of the 2019-21 World Test Championship against India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. He wasn’t a part of the national team that featured in the T20I series against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

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