The New Zealand cricket team is feeling positive about the fitness of key bowler Mitchell Santner as they prepare for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
Santner, an essential all-rounder for the Black Caps, sustained an injury during the ongoing ODI series against England. His knee was jarred during the second ODI at the Ageas Bowl, causing him to miss the subsequent game.
With Ish Sodhi being rested in preparation for the Cricket World Cup, New Zealand faced a concern regarding the absence of a full-time spinner. The alternative options, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips, had struggled in the third game.
However, New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead, expressed confidence in Santner’s potential return.
“Mitch had a full scan on his knee, which he landed on when he took that catch in the last game at the Ageas Bowl,” Stead explained. “It’s come back positively, which is good for us. He’s just got quite a bit of swelling around the knee still, which they think is a joint problem. It’s nothing more than that.”
While Santner’s absence has raised concerns, Stead was pleased with the performance of Trent Boult, the left-arm fast bowler who has taken eight wickets in two appearances during the tour.
“It’s great to have Trent back: he brings a lot of energy and a lot of skill to the top of the order for us. In the two games he has played, he has shown his ability as a world-class player to topple England.”
As the four-game ODI series against England stands at 2-1 in favor of England, both teams are gearing up for the fourth ODI at Lord’s on September 15th.
