Kane Williamson Injury Update: The captain of New Zealand had suffered an elbow niggle during the first Test at Lord’s.
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New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult is officially available for the second Test of the ongoing two-match series against England. Considering his all-format stature, fans should expect Boult to take the new ball for the visitors in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Boult, 31, had returned back home from India after the postponement of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League. As a result, the left-arm pacer had to miss the first Test at Lord’s.
A substantial relaxation in the quarantine procedure put in place by the British government resulted in Boult getting a nod to join the squad ahead of the second Test which is slated to commence from June 10.
“Trent [Boult] is back and available to be selected and it’s likely we’ll play him in this game as well. It’s good news for us. Things did change when he got here or from the information we had initially. So, think it’s the best thing for Trent to get out there, get the Dukes ball in his hand and show us what he’s capable of,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead told reporters.
In the four Tests that the left-armer has played in England, his 21 wickets have come at an average and strike rate of 23.14 and 52 respectively including a couple of five-wicket hauls.
Kane Williamson Injury Update
While the visitors’ Playing XI will be unequivocally bolstered by Boult’s return in the second Test, they might have to make more changes to as captain Kane Williamson continues to recover from an elbow niggle which he had suffered at Lord’s.
“His [Williamson] elbow is still niggling him a wee bit. We’ve had some more treatment on that and we just want to make sure it’s the best thing for him, playing in this match versus taking a bit more time to be ready and training the way he needs to train,” Stead said about Williamson.
With New Zealand slated to face India in the World Test Championship final later this month, Stead wouldn’t want to risk Williamson by playing him forcefully in Birmingham. Opening batsman Tom Latham, who has led New Zealand twice in his 57 Tests, will add to the same number if Williamson doesn’t recover in time for the second Test.
Williamson, who had returned with scores of 13 and 1 in the first Test, has mostly struggled in England scoring 261 runs in 10 innings with the help of one century and half-century each.
It is worth mentioning New Zealand have already lost all-rounder Mitchell Santner to a finger injury which he aggravated while bowling at Lord’s.
