WELLINGTON, New Zealand: New Zealand Cricket announced Wednesday that the involvement of Tim Southee, the prominent Black Caps paceman, in the upcoming 50-overs Cricket World Cup will be determined following a crucial surgery for a fractured and dislocated thumb.
The operation is scheduled for Thursday, and the decision regarding his participation in the World Cup is anticipated early next week. Gary Stead, the head coach of the New Zealand cricket team, remains optimistic about Southee’s prospects of making a timely recovery.
We’ve got our fingers crossed the surgery goes well for Tim, Stead expressed, acknowledging the significance of Southee’s potential role in the World Cup.
Tim Southee, renowned as New Zealand’s Test captain, is slated to undergo a procedure involving the insertion of pins or screws into his thumb, as explained by Stead. The success of this procedure will dictate Southee’s ability to endure any pain and effectively manage the healing process, allowing him to resume training and ultimately participate in the tournament.
Providing the procedure is a success, it will be a matter of ensuring Tim can tolerate the pain and manage the actual wound when returning to train and play, Stead added, underlining the critical aspect of Southee’s recovery.
Coach Stead is particularly hopeful that Southee will be fit to play in the World Cup opener against England, scheduled for October 5th in Ahmedabad. The injury occurred during the final one-day international of the four-match series against England when Southee, while attempting to catch England’s Joe Root, suffered the thumb injury and was immediately in distress. He left the field for a scan and was unable to return to the game.
Tim Southee, a seasoned cricketer at 34 years of age, boasts an impressive track record, having secured 214 wickets in 157 ODIs. His experience and skill make him a vital asset to the New Zealand team, and Coach Stead emphasized their intention to provide Southee with every opportunity to be a part of the World Cup campaign.
