Kane Williamson, the captain of New Zealand’s white-ball team, has returned to the practice nets to hit balls and continue his recovery following surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.
Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team, has issued a warning, stating that the player’s batting and level of fitness have not yet achieved that needed for performance at the international level. Kane Williamson showed his enthusiasm for the training camp for the New Zealand men’s team at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui in a video made available by Cricket New Zealand. He said:
Seeing some of the guys and some of the new faces was great. awaiting the team camp with anticipation. It’s nice to have it here at home, on the Mount [Maunganui], where we can train and briefly re-connect.
Get the latest on Kane Williamson’s injury rehab from the man himself and BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead. #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/vJQGOTO83E
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 4, 2023
New Zealand is getting ready for games against the UAE and England even though he is not yet ready for full-fledged participation. Williamson is intent on regaining his form and working for a comeback. He said:
It’s nice to be on the bike, perform conditioning sessions on the bike, and advance from the lowest level, stuff that’s really, really controlled, to getting better with my movements and being able to incorporate some of the batting aspects, you know, when you move your feet a little bit more. There is still some work to do, so truly keep working hard.
Williamson is not prepared at his current level to compete internationally, according to Gary Stead
Although it isn’t appropriate for him to compete at an international level, Gary Stead, the head coach of New Zealand, said it was good to see him holding a bat and hitting the balls again.
There were concerns over the Kiwi star’s availability for the 2023 ODI World Cup when he had to be carried off the field during the IPL match and was eventually eliminated from the competition.
Williamson had surgery in New Zealand in April, and if he couldn’t participate in the World Cup in October-November, reports said he might still travel with the team as a mentor.
Williamson hadn’t given up on playing in the World Cup, either, according to news reports from June. There is still a slim chance that he may recuperate in time for the competition, which begins on October 5 with New Zealand vs. England in Ahmedabad.
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