New Zealand vs Bangladesh: Kane Williamson uncertain to play the third Test in Christchurch

Kane Williamson led from the front to guide Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 after the team saw a shocking exit of regular skipper David Warner because of a ban. Though Warner is set to return this year, the orange army came in for yet another shock for it is Williamson himself who has sustained an injury and might see a delay in his participation in the IPL this year.

The New Zealander was the highest run-scorer of the 2018 edition with 735 runs in 17 matches with eight fifties and average of 52-plus. The Black Caps captain injured his shoulder while fielding against Bangladesh in the first innings of the second Test in Wellington. The hosts won the game by an innings and 12 runs even after no game was possible in the first two days because of rain.

Williamson had a good game with the bat although with discomfort, scoring 74 runs, and also helped his team win the series. But his injury led to a tear in the left pectoral muscle in his shoulder, as it was revealed by coach Gary Stead. “There’s obviously irritation and a wee bit of bleeding, it’s not a major injury,” News 18 cited reports quoting Stead as saying.

“We’re hopeful that he will recover quickly, and the thing for us is to make sure he doesn’t aggravate it any more. He will come to Christchurch and we will make an assessment there on whether he plays.” The dead rubber of the three-match series begins in Christchurch on March 16. New Zealand won the first Test in Hamilton by an innings and 52 runs and Williamson bagged the Man of the Match award for scoring an unbeaten 200.

NZ to go for safety first keeping WC in mind

Speaking on Williamson likely to miss the third Test, Stead said the hosts would take a ‘safety first’ approach with the World Cup not too far. Williamson is one of their best batsmen around and the team plans to make strategies for the showpiece event around the experienced campaigner. The Black Caps will play their first match at the WC against Sri Lanka in Cardiff on Saturday, June 1.

Williamson did not field in Bangladesh’s second innings in Wellington when Tim Southee led the side. The SRH are set to play their first match in IPL 2019 on March 24 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

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