'There’s always that chance of him skipping matches' - Coach Gary Stead provides update on Kane Williamson's fitness

New Zealand coach Gary Stead stated that Kane Williamson might skip a few matches due to his elbow injury. The Kiwi skipper did not participate with the bat in the warm-up fixture against England on October 20, which as per Stead was just a precautionary measure to not aggravate his injury. New Zealand will begin their Super12 campaign on October 26 against Pakistan.

Stead further informed that Williamson’s injury is currently being monitored by the medicals, while adding that he is hopeful regarding his availability. “Williamson’s absence from the batting crease against England was more precautionary than anything. 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. There’s always that chance of him skipping matches,” Stead was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

“Kane is a prodigious hitter of and 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. So, it’s really getting that balance right, between feeling ready and feeling prepared to go, and making sure we don’t aggravate anything,” he added.

We will likely favour the three-seamer/two-spinner bowling attack: Gary Stead

Speaking further about what kind of team combination New Zealand would opt for in the World Cup, Stead stated that the team is likely to go with five bowlers, with three pacers and two spinners but added that the decision will be taken according to the conditions on offer.

“We will likely favour the three-seamer/two-spinner bowling attack that we have gone with often of late. We have had that balance for quite a while and I think it’s still the right balance for most of the conditions here as well.

Regarding playing Pakistan in Sharjah in their opening game, Stead stated: “We will weigh up what we think around Sharjah in particular and if we think there needs to be anything different there for that first game against Pakistan, but that’s a little way down the track. We will see how guys scrub up tomorrow morning as well to make sure there are no injury concerns.”

New Zealand are in group two along with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and two qualifying teams.