Daryl Mitchell ruled out of T20: New Zealand faced a big blow as their star all-rounder Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out from the tri-series against Pakistan and Bangladesh ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
The ongoing tri-series was a part of the preparation for the team ahead of the marquee and Mitchell’s injury now came as a shocker for the side. Whether he will be available for the World Cup or not will be subject to his fitness.
Mitchell fractured his hand while training in Lincoln. He fractured his right arm during the net session, with an X-ray report clarifying later that he had a fracture in his fifth metacarpal.
The physio of Team New Zealand for the tri-series, Theo Kapakoulakis, has confirmed the same and also said that his hand was placed in a cast and it will remain on for at least two weeks.
What New Zealand Coach Gary Stead said about Daryl Mitchell’s fracture?
With the team ready to depart for Australia for the T20 World Cup on October 15. New Zealand’s coach Gary stated that some time was needed to say about his availability for the mega event.
“It’s a real shame for Daryl to suffer this injury on the eve of an exciting period of cricket for the side,” Stead said in an official release.
“Daryl’s become a really important player to our T20 unit. And we’re certainly going to miss his all-round skills and versatility in the Tri-Series. With our first game of the World Cup in just over two weeks. We need to take some to consider Daryl’s recovery timeline. And his potential involvement in the tournament,” he added.
Daryl Mitchell’s performance in 2022
Mitchell has scored runs at an impressive average of 33.12 so far this year, as he amassed 265 runs in 10 games with an outstanding strike-rate of 153.17.
They have picked bunch of good pacers in the squad for the World Cup. With Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne will be there front-line bowlers. While they included James Neesham and Daryll Neesham to further strengthen their seam bowling department.
Kane Williamson, who led team to the T20 World Cup finals in 2021 mega event, as expected will lead the side in the eighth edition of the T20 World Cup.
New Zealand are in a tough group in the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, England and Afghanistan. While two more teams will added to the group after the qualifiers.
The Blackcaps will start their World Cup campaign on October 22 against Australia at Sydney.
While before the main event. They will required to play two warm-up games. One against South-Africa on October 17, and the second against India on October 19.
New Zealand squad for T-20 World Cup 2022:
Kane Williamson (c), Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner, Glenn Phillips, Jimmy Neesham, Daryl Mitchell, Adam Milne, Martin Guptill, Lachlan Ferguson, Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Trent Boult, Finn Allen
