In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand cricketers Kane Williamson and Kyle Jamieson have been withdrawn from the Kiwi’s T20 International squad against Bangladesh. The decision, based on “medical advice and consideration of the team’s upcoming schedule,” has left Mitchell Santner stepping up as the captain in the absence of Williamson.
The New Zealand Cricket board clarified that the move is aimed at ensuring both Williamson and Jamieson are in peak condition for the upcoming Test matches against South Africa and Australia. The team’s coach, Gary Stead, emphasized the importance of having the key players fully fit and stated, “We want both Kane and Kyle to be in the best possible place leading into the next block of Test cricket.”
The decision for withdrawal was made after thorough discussions with the medical staff and the players. The chosen course of action is a period of rehabilitation and conditioning to optimize the fitness of the two players for the crucial Test series ahead.
To fill the void left by Williamson and Jamieson, the New Zealand squad has welcomed Rachin Ravindra and pacer Jacob Duffy. Coach Stead expressed confidence in Duffy’s experience in T20 cricket and highlighted his continuous improvement in white-ball skills. He also praised Ravindra’s eagerness to learn and develop across all formats, making them valuable additions to the team.
The revised New Zealand squad for the T20Is against Bangladesh includes Mitchell Santner (Captain), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, and Tim Southee. The team is gearing up for the upcoming series with a renewed focus, embracing the challenges presented by the unexpected changes in their lineup.
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