New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has withdrawn his name from ‘The Hundred’, ECB's premier short format tournament, to manage his elbow injury which also forced him to miss one Test against England in the two-match series last month.
“Williamson, New Zealand’s captain, has been managing the injury for the past six months, missing an ODI series against Bangladesh, the start of the IPL and the second Test against England with the same problem,” as per a ESPNcricinfo report.
The report further suggested that the right-handed batsman will be with the side to mentor the young players. “He is still in the UK following the World Test Championship final and is expected to be involved with the Edgbaston-based team in a mentoring capacity.”
Williamson recently led the Blackcaps to a win in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against India in Southampton after scoring 49 and 52* in the first and second innings respectively. Chasing 139 on the reserve day of the Test match, New Zealand went over the line by 8 wickets.
Apart from Williamson, a number of international players have pulled out of the tournament. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, West Indies Kieron Pollard, Australia’s Nathan Coulter-Nile, David Warner and Marcus Stoinis are some of the other players to have opted out.
The competition is slated to begin on July 22 at Kennington Oval while the final will be held on August 21 at Lord’s.