Image Credit- ICC
In the run-up to the World Cup, former New Zealand
wicketkeeper and current pundit Katey Martin referred to “the most
important knee in New Zealand” as being finally prepared to withstand the
strain of international cricket.
Kane Williamson said that he will play against
Bangladesh on Friday after netting up for about an hour last night and again
this afternoon at Chepauk’s outdoor nets. Williamson’s ACL tear during the IPL
opening in March of this year made it initially appear as though he would not
make the World Cup at all, but he has since made an incredible comeback.
“Yeah, definitely. Initially, it [my comeback]
was not really considered,” Williamson said on the eve of the Bangladesh
game. “And to be honest, it was probably a good thing just to get my head
stuck into rehab and each day and not sort of rush it. That was really my
focus, and I was fortunate as well I had a really, really good team around me
back home.
“And also fortunate not to have a lot of setbacks
during that time, so there were lots of little steps forward, which I guess
accumulate to being here now really and getting close and realising that if
each week does keep progressing well, ticking off all those sort of milestones
along the way, which there are many of them, then there might be a chance. And
yeah, grateful that that was something that could be done and getting named in
the squad was a really exciting moment.”
Following that, Williamson was given some playing time
during the warm-up matches against Pakistan and South Africa. Williamson went
4, 4, 4 against Haris Rauf’s quick bowling in the powerplay of his first
batting innings in more than six months. He then pushed on to make 54 off 50
balls before retiring in Hyderabad.
Williamson batted as if he hadn’t missed a beat during
the two training sessions at Chepauk. He middled almost every ball against New
Zealand’s spinners on Wednesday night, and on Thursday, when Trent Boult raced
him with an effort ball, Williamson calmly swung his head out of the path.
“Yeah, the recovery was … [a] journey really
with a series of really small steps and just trying to take small steps forward
and it certainly started with strength and range, in terms of the knee,”
Williamson said. “And then gradually trying to improve that and control a
bit – some of the pain around it as the load increases and we could be here all
day talking about it, but I’ll fast-forward a little bit – great to be here and
then and get involved in those warm-up games which were really, really
enjoyable.”