Kane Williamson pleased with successful return after knee injury

Kane Williamson’s remarkable return to competitive cricket, marked by a confident innings of 54 runs off 50 balls in New Zealand’s warm-up match against Pakistan, left him pleased and grateful for his knee’s resilience. The New Zealand cricket captain’s journey from injury to recovery has been an inspiring one, and he acknowledged that such a return seemed improbable just five months ago.

Williamson’s cricketing future was shrouded in uncertainty after he ruptured the ACL in his right knee while fielding in the opening match of the IPL 2023 for the Gujarat Titans. Following surgery and months of dedicated rehabilitation, his remarkable recovery culminated in his participation in Friday’s warm-up match. He showcased his batting prowess, using exquisite timing and wristwork to maneuver Pakistan’s bowlers with confidence.

“Getting the opportunity to bat out in the middle and seeing my knee hold up well is a great relief. Some icing was required afterward, but it’s all part of the process,” Williamson remarked.

He added, “This outcome was unimaginable just five months ago. I’ve been fortunate with my recovery, and being named in the squad is incredibly exciting for me. I’m eagerly looking forward to getting back out there. It was satisfying to perform in the match.”

Williamson is set to miss New Zealand’s opening match against England in Ahmedabad on October 5. However, he aims to gradually increase his participation, including batting and fielding, in the team’s second warm-up match against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. While he occasionally displayed signs of discomfort while batting on Friday, Williamson managed to forge a remarkable 137-run partnership with centurion Rachin Ravindra.

“The overall experience was quite positive, which is encouraging. It’s gratifying to build on this performance. It was a fantastic opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their preparations, with bowlers getting the necessary overs and batters spending time in the middle,” Williamson commented.

Head coach Gary Stead expressed his satisfaction with Williamson’s batting performance in the warm-up game and outlined the team’s plan to gradually reintegrate him into all aspects of the game.

“It was wonderful to witness Kane back in action, albeit solely as a batter. In the next game, we hope he will field for 20-25 overs as we continue to progress towards a full return. We’re taking measured steps to ensure he can confidently land, dive, and fulfill his fielding duties, allowing him to participate fully in the upcoming stages of the tournament.”

Stead added, “Kane appeared as if he had never been away from the game. It’s truly heartening for the team to see him perform so well. We understand that he is on the cusp of regaining full fitness—while he’s not quite there yet, we are moving one step closer to that goal.”

Williamson’s successful return has injected optimism into the New Zealand camp, and fans eagerly anticipate his full-fledged participation in the upcoming matches, where his leadership and cricketing acumen will be invaluable assets to the team.

-IANS