New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Thursday described his hamstring injury as “minor”, allaying concerns over his fitness ahead of the first match of the Black Caps T20 World Cup against Pakistan on 26 October.
A day after New Zealand coach Gary Stead expressed confidence about his availability, Williamson also struck a note of optimism ahead of the match in Sharjah. The tournament starts on 17 October.
“Moderate, (it’s) well, making good progress. So, no complaints,” he replied to a query during a conference call with the media organized by the ICC.
Talking about his team’s preparations, Williamson said that it is great to have former fast bowler Shane Bond in the support staff.
Bond will exclusively work with the spinners of the national team during the tournament.
“Whatever experience he has in this part of the world (UAE) from around the world and especially with Mumbai (Indians in IPL), he is very good at his job,” Willimson said.
“…he’ll help our bowling coach and do everything possible, so he’ll be around the group anyway, he’s a lot of fun,” he said.
Bond, who joined the team as the fourth coach, has been working with the team’s spinners as well as assisting bowling coach Shane Jurgensen.
He has been the bowling coach of five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians.
New Zealand, who have won the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, have always entered ICC events with the under-dog tag, but that didn’t matter to Williamson.
“I mean tags are tags. Everyone has different, so it doesn’t matter… there are match winners everywhere and anyone can beat anyone in a day, so it’s huge for the audience. It’s an exciting prospect, no doubt about it,” he said.
According to Williamson, it is important to adjust fast in events like the T20 World Cup, when the sides face different opposition at different venues,” he said.
“… it’s a very small tournament, so you want to get into the ground running and try and get a little bit of speed up quickly. In events like this, when you play different opponents, everyone Like three days in different places, there are some changes that have to be done very quickly.
“…it’s great to be here with the New Zealand team and what’s so exciting about the group and being in it,” Williamson said.
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