NZ vs ENG | Tim Southee to lead T20Is in absence of Kane Williamson
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With New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson being ruled out from the T20I series due to injury, seasoned paceman Tim Southee will lead the side in the home fixtures against England. The first of the five T20Is to be played between the two teams will begin on November 1, in Christchurch.
Earlier in August, during the tour of Sri Lanka, New Zealand had announced their T20I squads, resting Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. But this time the New Zealand captain will miss out the upcoming home T20I series against England after a recurring hip injury resurfaced. New Zealand team officials, on Friday, revealed that Tim Southee will lead the team in Williamson's absence.
Meanwhile, coach Gary Stead is hopeful for Williamson to return for the two-match Test series against England that starts following the conclusion of the T20I series. The injury that has now once again affected Williamson is the same that troubled the skipper during the Test series against Bangladesh in March.
Stead has expressed that it’s disappointing to lose Kane Williamson, who has suffered an injury, ahead of England T20Is but having Tim Southee lead the side is fortunate for New Zealand."It's disappointing timing for Kane at the start of an exciting Kiwi summer, but we feel it's the right decision with a busy season ahead," Stead said, according to Brisbane Times.
"We're fortunate to have someone experienced like Tim who can comfortably step in and take the reins," he added.
Meanwhile, prolific fast bowler Lockie Ferguson would play the first three fixtures, starting on November 1, of the five-match before being replaced by Trent Boult.
New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (capt), Trent Boult (games 4 and 5), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games 1-3), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner.
