Kane Williamson's participation in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the five-match series against Sri Lanka, on December 26, is doubtful as he has not fully recovered from a knee niggle that he suffered in the Test series that finished on December 21. Tom Latham, the opener in Tests, will likely take his place if Williamson is not able to pass the fitness test to be held ahead of the contest, in Christchurch.
"We're just working through that knee. It's just a little bit niggly so we want to make sure it's a hundred per cent. If it's not Tom is the man we'll bring in as cover. We'll see how he feels (on Christmas Day) and make a decision. We need to get it right, if a little bit of a break will help it that's something we'll consider," Craig McMillan, New Zealand's batting coach, was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz .
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>@BLACKCAPS and
>@OfficialSLC in a battle to move up the
>@ICC ODI Championship
>#NZvSL>https://t.co/OCvUmclVrf>pic.twitter.com/tXyln3S8EE
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms)
>December 24, 2015Williamson, the No. 3 batsman and New Zealand's likely all-format captain after the exit of Brendon McCullum from the international stage, broke McCullum's record of highest runs scored in a year by a New Zealand player, in the Tests against Sri Lanka. He has had a stellar international run this year, with 2633 runs in all formats.
Sri Lanka are also having to deal with an injury trouble: Lasith Malinga, their strike-bowler, may not be fit for any match in the ODI series, with a knee trouble. Kusal Perera, their first-choice wicketkeeper for limited-overs' matches, was >provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council due to an anti-doping violation.
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