New Zealand’s campaign for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup has encountered a significant hurdle with two key players sustaining injuries just weeks before the tournament. Pace bowler Adam Milne and all-rounder Michael Bracewell both suffered muscle injuries during separate matches on Sunday, casting doubt on their participation in the global cricket championship scheduled to begin February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.
Milne, known for his express bowling, damaged his left hamstring while delivering a ball for Sunrisers Eastern Cape during a SA20 league match in South Africa. The injury occurred during his bowling spell and has prompted immediate medical assessment to determine the severity and recovery timeline.
Simultaneously, Bracewell sustained a left calf strain while fielding during the third One-Day International against India in Indore. New Zealand Cricket officials confirmed both injuries in an official statement, indicating that Bracewell’s condition would be monitored closely before determining his continued involvement in the ongoing tour.
In response to these developments, the selectors have called up all-rounder Kristian Clarke as backup for the first three T20 Internationals against India, beginning Wednesday. Clarke, who recently impressed during the ODI series against India, will provide additional pace-bowling options for the Black Caps.
Head coach Rob Walter addressed the challenging situation, noting: ‘We’re managing considerable player movement at this crucial juncture. Some athletes are returning from previous injuries, others are transitioning directly from franchise commitments, and the remainder are coming off the ODI series. This presents an excellent opportunity for Kristian to extend his stay with the squad following his impressive demonstration of talent and composure under pressure during the ODI matches.’
New Zealand’s World Cup campaign commences in Group D against Afghanistan on February 8 in Chennai, with these injury concerns adding complexity to their final preparations for the prestigious tournament.