Kane Williamson to miss Bangladesh ODI series with elbow injury

The New Zealand captain, who has over 6,000 runs in 151 ODIs, played all five matches of his country’s T20 series against Australia but has been told to rest by NZC’s medical team

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss his country’s upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh after sustaining a persistent elbow injury.

The 30-year old, who has scored over 6,000 runs in 151 ODIs for New Zealand, has a small tear in his left-elbow tendon and has been troubled by the injury for the second half of the season.

Williamson captained New Zealand during their recent series win over Australia, scoring 82 runs (one half-century), but has been told to rest and rehabilitate the injury by New Zealand Cricket’s medical team.

Commenting on the decision, NZC medical manager, Dayle Shackel, said: "Kane’s been managing the elbow injury to varying degrees this summer and unfortunately it hasn’t improved.

"He obviously has a high volume of training and playing across the three formats, which has inhibited his ability to recover. We believe he now needs a period of rest and rehabilitation to get the injury right.

^{Williamson celebrates the wicket of Matthew Wade during the second T20 against Australia in Dunedin}

"Time-frames can vary but we’re hopeful that, after an initial rest, he should be able to begin rehabilitation next week.”

While disappointed to lose his captain, New Zealand head coach, Gary Stead, agreed that it was the right call ahead of his side’s busy schedule, stating: "Kane loves playing for his country - so it hasn’t been an easy decision to step back.

"A batsman’s front elbow is crucial to his game and with the injury not improving it was clear something needed to be done.

"We’ve got a huge year of cricket ahead with an England Test tour and ICC World Test Championship Final first up in May and June, and we want to make sure we have Kane fit and firing for that.

"We will certainly miss his class and leadership in the upcoming Bangladesh series, but his omission will no doubt present an opportunity for someone else when the ODI squad is named."

New Zealand are hosting Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series and a three-match T20 series, with the first ODI scheduled to take place in Dunedin on March 20 (March 19 GMT).

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