Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Williamson eases concern around hamstring injury ahead of T20 WC. Williamson expects to get into full training soon
Williamson expects to get into full training soon
Kane Williamson has eased some of the nerves surrounding his injury concerns and has acknowledged he'll be taking part in full training in “few days or so”. Williamson missed the final IPL 2021 league match for Sunrisers Hyderabad because of a hamstring niggle.
New Zealand play their first Super 12 game on October 26 against Pakistan in Sharjah, which Williamson feels is enough time to recover. “The hamstring is minor, it's progressing nicely, so not too many concerns and we've still got plenty of time,” he said. “So, yeah, hopefully in the next sort of few days or so, I'll be taking basically full part in the training. So, it's all good.”
The hamstring isn't the only worry for the New Zealand captain. Williamson has also had to endure a troublesome elbow issue as well. “The elbow – it has just been a bit of a slow-burner. Yeah, it has been quite frustrating for a long period of time. However, it has definitely improved a bit over the last two months I've had after the World Test Championship. In rehab, it has definitely seemed to move forward, which is refreshing, but still a little bit of time to get back to a 100 (per cent), but it's definitely better.
“Just gripping and then extending. So, which you do a lot of obviously (while) batting and it has been frustrating certainly when it was at its worst. But the harder you grip and further you extend, the more it seems to be quite disruptive. Like I said there's been a lot of improvement over the last three months, which is good. That has really been the focus and I'm at the stage where I'm largely about to get through with some comfort and it's nice to be able to focus a bit more on the cricketing side of things rather than having constant negotiations with physios.”
With the IPL 2021 moving to the UAE, Williamson has had time to assess the conditions but feels things could change once the T20 WC gets going. “They've varied a lot actually. Even a lot compared to what we experienced last summer when we had the whole tournament here [the UAE] and in previous years when we've played here as well,” he pointed out. “Something to be aware of; something certainly to prepare for and try and make those adjustments as quickly as possible and get comfortable with what realistic expectations are and what competitive totals are because it has not unfolded in that traditional T20 style at times.
“But then we've had other days, in the IPL when we turned up to Abu Dhabi, the wicket looked very similar, but there was sort of an 80-run difference in what was perhaps a par total. It is really adjusting to what's in front of you as quickly as possible and trusting in that judgement.”
After starting the campaign in Sharjah, New Zealand will play two matches in Dubai before playing in Sharjah again and Abu Dhabi to end their Super 12 stage. One of the concerns for them will be their last three afternoon matches. “Recovering will be a big part of that. The temperatures are getting a little bit better and being here nice and early – it allows the guys to acclimatise a little bit (to the conditions) and get a little bit more comfortable in these sorts of temperatures,” he said. “Those day-offs after the game, especially when it's as dense as that, will be really important so that guys can get back up and be as fresh as possible going into the following game.”
