BIG blow for Tom Latham’s NZ, THIS star cricketer not to travel to India for third Test vs India in Mumbai
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- BIG blow for Tom Latham’s New Zealand, THIS star cricketer not to travel to India for third Test vs India in Mumbai
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the third Test vs India starting in Mumbai on November 1 due to groin injury.
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. (Source: X)
New Zealand have achieved a historic first-ever Test series win over Team India, winning the first two Tests of the three-match series comprehensively. The visitors will take on Rohit Sharma’s side in the third and final Test match starting at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from November 1.
However, Tom Latham’s side received a big blow on Tuesday (October 29) with the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board announcing that former skipper and star batter Kane Williamson will not be travelling to India and will be missing the third Test as well. The 34-year-old batter had missed the first two Tests of the series due to a groin injury.
“A cautious approach will instead be taken which will see Williamson continue his groin injury rehabilitation in New Zealand ahead of the first England Test starting at Hagley Oval on November 28,” the NZC statement on Tuesday said.
Squad News | Kane Williamson will not travel to India for the third Test in Mumbai to ensure he his fit for the upcoming three-Test series against England 🏏 #CricketNationhttps://t.co/HpqP4w6Ufp
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 29, 2024
Black Caps head coach Gary Stead said Williamson had made good progress, but the cautious approach would give him time to be fully fit for the England series. “Kane continues to show good signs, but isn’t quite ready to jump on a plane and join us,” Stead said.
“While things are looking promising, we think the best course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part of his rehabilitation so he’ll be good to go for England. The England series is still a month away so taking the cautious approach now will ensure he is ready for the first Test in Christchurch,” he added.
Williamson has turned out in 102 Tests for New Zealand till date and scored 8,881 runs at an average of 51.43 with 32 hundreds and 35 fifties. He was in race to complete his 9,000 Test runs with former India skipper Virat Kohli but the Indian batter reached this mark in the first Test of the series in Bengaluru, which New Zealand won by eight wickets.
The visitors went on to create history by handing India their first Test series loss at home since 2012 with their 113-run win in the second Test in Pune last week. It ended a streak of 18 straight series wins for India on home soil.
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