New Zealand Cricketer Southee Given Green Light for India Tour Following Thumb Surgery
Bowler Tim Southee cleared to join New Zealand’s squad at the World Cup
In a surprising turn of events, bowler Tim Southee has been given the green light to join New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming World Cup in India. This comes just a week after he underwent surgery on a fractured and dislocated thumb.
The Black Caps have set their sights on having Southee fit and ready for their tournament opener against England on 5 October. It is an impressive feat considering his recent injury setback.
Southee suffered the unfortunate incident during the fourth one-day international against England when he dropped a catch on 15 September. However, thanks to successful surgery last Thursday, his recovery seems to be going remarkably well.
As an added precaution, seamer Kyle Jamieson will also be joining the squad as part of their contingency plan. While not officially part of the World Cup party, Jamieson won’t be available for warm-up games against Pakistan and South Africa happening this Friday and Monday respectively.
This news brings great relief to fans as Southee has established himself as a key player over time with his commendable performances in One Day Internationals (ODIs). With 157 ODIs under his belt and an impressive tally of 214 wickets taken so far, he holds significant experience that can contribute immensely to New Zealand’s campaign.
It should be noted that Southee was also part of the team that endured heartbreak in the final of the previous edition of this prestigious tournament back in 2019 when they were defeated by England. His leadership skills were showcased during the recent series in England when he captained the side in the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson.
Speaking of Williamson, there’s good news for New Zealand as he has also been selected for the World Cup squad despite his ongoing recovery from ruptured knee ligaments sustained in March. While there is no guarantee that he will be fit for the tournament opener in Ahmedabad, fans can expect him to make a comeback later on and contribute significantly to their campaign.