New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Tom Latham is set to miss the pre-tournament warm-up matches against India and West Indies due to injury.
The Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson confirmed the news at the Captains’ Day on May 23 in London, where the captains from all ten competing nations congregated for an open press conference.
“Tom won’t be available for the first two warm-up games,” Williamson said. “We are hoping he progresses nice and quickly and we will have to address it as the days go by.”
Latham fractured his left-middle finger during a warm-up match against Australia XI and has been limited to catching tennis balls, with New Zealand’s first game fast approaching on June 1 against Sri Lanka in Cardiff.
Uncapped back-up keeper Tom Blundell will likely replace him.
Williamson, at the Captain’s Day, also expressed how pleased he was to have the squad back together, with New Zealand having last played an ODI on February 10 against Bangladesh. “It’s been great get together for the last few days,” he said.
“We’ve not played together for a couple of months but we’re not the only ones in that boat. The guys are excited to be back in camp which is really refreshing, and we’re looking forward to the challenges that we have got coming up.”
