Matt Henry Ruled Out of World Cup 2023, Kyle Jamieson to join New Zealand for the rest of the Tournament
On November 1, New Zealand encountered another setback when fast bowler Matt Henry was forced to exit the field during their match against South Africa due to a suspected hamstring injury.
Matt Henry has been a key asset in the Blackcaps’ bowling attack, having taken 11 wickets in seven matches during the World Cup 2023 campaign. However, in the 27th over of the match, things took a turn for the worse for him.
During his sixth over, after delivering three balls, Henry had to stop due to a hamstring problem in his right leg. He was seen in conversation with Trent Boult, while Tom Latham and Mitchell Santner also showed their concern. Subsequently, Jimmy Neesham replaced Henry to complete the 27th over. Henry had given away 31 runs in 5.3 overs.
Matt Henry joins New Zealand’s mounting injury list
The 2023 Cricket World Cup has proven to be a challenging journey for the New Zealand team, with several key players battling injuries. Notably, captain Kane Williamson endured a tough road, initially facing a knee injury during the Indian Premier League in April 2023, which required an extensive recovery period. Despite this setback, he made a remarkable comeback to join the World Cup squad. However, his return was short-lived as he suffered a thumb fracture during a match against Bangladesh on October 15, 2023. This injury forced him to retire hurt after scoring 78 runs, casting doubt on his participation in the remainder of the tournament. Tom Blundell was called in as cover for him until his recovery.
Mark Chapman, an all-rounder, also grappled with injury issues during the World Cup, missing a high-scoring game against Australia due to a calf injury.
Lockie Ferguson, another pivotal player for New Zealand, experienced an Achilles’ issue during a match against Australia. Despite the discomfort, he expressed hope that he would be fit for the upcoming matches.
Kyle Jamieson Comes in as Replacement for the rest of World Cup 2023
New Zealand have subsequently brought in Kyle Jamieson as cover into the squad. Jamieson will arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s game against Pakistan.
“The severity of Matt’s injury, combined with a short turnaround to Pakistan, meant we couldn’t risk being a bowler down for Saturday,” head coach Gary Stead said.
“Matt’s been a world class performer for us in ODI cricket for the past two World Cup cycles so we’ve got our fingers crossed for the scan results later today.”
Stead said Jamieson was well prepared to return to India.
“Kyle’s on his way over as we speak and we look forward to welcoming him back into the group. He’ll likely train with us on Friday with a mind to being available for Saturday’s game.
“Kyle was able to train for two full weeks with us earlier in the tournament and has since played a Plunket Shield match – so we’re confident he’ll be able to hit the ground running.”
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