New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident that captain Kane Williamson will return to action for the first Test against England, scheduled for November 28-December 2 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Williamson suffered a groin injury during the tour of Sri Lanka, but the team management has opted for a cautious approach to his rehabilitation.
Despite Williamson’s absence, New Zealand pulled off a historic Test series victory in India, with Will Young stepping up in his place. However, tearaway quick Ben Sears is likely to miss the England series due to a knee injury.
Stead expressed his confidence in Williamson’s availability for the first Test against England, stating that they could have rushed him back for the Mumbai Test but decided against it to ensure proper recovery. He praised the team’s performance in Williamson’s absence, highlighting Young’s contributions.
Sears’ injury could pave the way for a potential Test debut for Nathan Smith, who was recently added to New Zealand’s central contracts list. Smith impressed as the top wicket-taker in the 2023-24 Plunket Shield.
Stead also expressed optimism about New Zealand’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. With four remaining Tests, they need to win each to finish on 64.29%. Stead drew inspiration from their previous WTC triumph in 2019-21, where they won six consecutive Tests.
