Share

Williamson fit to face Tigers

Hamilton - New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum declared Kane Williamson fit to face Bangladesh on Friday but injured fast bowler Adam Milne is unlikely to play, forcing their first change of the Cricket World Cup.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell McClenaghan is likely to replace Milne in what would be the first game for one of the four other members of the Black Caps squad who warmed the bench as the hosts racked up five wins in five Pool A games.

Key batsman Williamson was one of the players struck down by gastroenteritis during the week.

"Most of the guys have been fine in term of illness," said McCullum on Thursday. "Milne, we want to have a look in the morning as he is still a little bit stiff."

Asked if McClenaghan would replace Milne, who has a bruised shoulder, McCullum replied: "It's fair to assume that."

McCullum said Williamson is keen to play even though New Zealand are already through to the quarter-finals.

"I think so, he (Williamson) is here today hitting balls and it's hard to keep him down for too long. He'll be in there indoors for a good 3-4 hours no doubt, knowing Kane. He seems fine," said McCullum, who said Daniel Vettori and Grant Elliott had also suffered stomach trouble.

"It is what it is. If half the team goes down you can't do anything about it.

"You can't wrap the team up in cotton wool. You just have to get on with it. They're the cards that fall in your hand and you find a way to play them. I'm confident the guys on the bench will play well and give us a good chance."


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1471 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE