Tim Southee will undergo surgery on Thursday to repair the thumb injury he sustained while playing against England last week. New Zealand remains hopeful that he will be able to participate in the World Cup. Southee dislocated and fractured his right thumb while attempting to catch a ball at slip offered by Joe Root at Lord’s. A decision on his availability for the World Cup will be made early next week.
Head coach Gary Stead expressed his optimism about Southee’s recovery, stating that they are hoping for a successful surgery. The procedure will involve inserting pins or screws into Southee’s thumb. Once the surgery is completed, the focus will be on managing any pain and ensuring that Southee can handle the wound when he returns to training and playing. The New Zealand team is targeting the opening game of the World Cup on October 5 in Ahmedabad as Southee’s potential return date.
Southee is an essential and experienced player for New Zealand, being their third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. He has played in three previous World Cups. Alongside Trent Boult, Matt Henry, and Lockie Ferguson, Southee was named as one of the four specialist quicks in New Zealand’s squad. Kane Williamson, who is returning from an ACL injury, is also part of the squad, although his availability date is still uncertain.
Before the World Cup, New Zealand has two warm-up matches scheduled, one against Pakistan on September 29 and another against South Africa on October 2. Currently, five members of the World Cup squad are participating in the ODI series in Bangladesh, while the rest will depart for India next Tuesday.
