HYDERABAD: After making 54 off 50 balls on his return to competitive action in New Zealand’s warm-up match against Pakistan, Kane Williamson was pleased over how his right knee held up pretty well and added that achieving this wasn’t a reality over five months ago.
There were question marks over Williamson’s participation in the event after rupturing the ACL in his right knee in March, while fielding in the opening match of IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans, and had to undergo surgery on return to home.
Since then, his rehab and recovery progressed in such a manner that he was able to play Friday’s warm-up match as a specialist batter, using his timing and wrists to perfection against Pakistan’s bowlers.
“Just great to get through some batting out in the middle and be part of a match, which was really nice and it (knee) held up pretty well. (It needed) a little bit of icing afterwards but it’s all part of the process.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a reality certainly five months ago and (I’ve) been quite fortunate with some of that recovery and to be named in the squad is really exciting for me and just really looking forward to getting out there again. It was nice to do that in the match,” Williamson was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo after the match ended.
Williamson, unavailable for October 5 opening match against England in Ahmedabad, will be aiming to bat and field in the side’s second warm-up match against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Though he hobbled on some occasions while batting on Friday, Williamson was able to share a 137-run partnership with centu-rion Rachin Ravindra.
“It was largely pretty good, which was pleasing. Nice to sort of build on that. It was a fantastic hit-out obviously. Pakistan are an outstanding side. I mean both teams were trying to get what they wanted out of it, in terms of bow-lers getting overs they needed and time in the legs.”
“So, it’s an exercise, but also nice to compete and do all those things. As a bowling unit and batting unit, plenty to take away from it. There’s always things to work on and it was a great batting performance today. It was a really good surface and it’s nice that we were able to put together partnerships and get time in the middle,” he added. IANS
Also Watch: