Kane Williamson: New Zealand captain ruled out by elbow injury

  • Published
Kane WilliamsonImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Williamson, one of the world's leading cricketers, has scored a record 24 Test hundreds for New Zealand

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will require a "sustained period of rest" after an elbow injury ruled him out of the second Test against India.

The tendon issue also saw Williamson, 31, third in the Test batting rankings, miss a Test against England in June.

In his place, Tom Latham led the Black Caps in Mumbai, as Mayank Agarwal's 120 not out took India to 221-4 on day one.

"It's been a really tough time for Kane having to deal with such a persistent injury," coach Gary Stead said.

"While we've been able to manage the injury through the year and the T20 World Cup, the shift to Test cricket and the increased batting loading has re-aggravated his elbow.

"Ultimately the injury is still not right and while he got through the Kanpur Test, it was clear playing in the second Test wasn't an option.

"It's important we now formulate a good plan with him to ensure the injury does not continue to plague him.

"He will likely require a sustained period of rest followed by rehabilitation, strengthening and gradual batting loading."

Williamson, who first sustained the injury last winter, made 18 and 24 in the first Test in Kanpur, in which New Zealand held on for a dramatic draw.

Ajaz Patel took three wickets in 10 balls for New Zealand, including returning India captain Virat Kohli controversially for a duck, but opener Agarwal's fine century, his fourth in 16 Tests, featuring 14 fours and four sixes, guided the hosts from 80-3.

Image source, BCCI
Image caption,

Agarwal has scored four Test centuries, two of them double hundreds, all of which have come in India

Kohli protested with the umpire after he was given out lbw fourth ball. He reviewed the decision, believing he had got an inside edge, but the third umpire said there was not conclusive evidence to determine whether ball hit bat or pad first and therefore stayed with the original decision.

New Zealand are first in the International Cricket Council Test rankings with India second, the Black Caps having beaten India in the World Test Championship final in June.

Williamson also led New Zealand to the T20 World Cup final last month where they were beaten by Australia.