ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: New Zealand bowler Tim Southee to undergo surgery before the mega event

Tim Southee sustained a thumb injury last week in fourth ODI against England.

There are only two weeks left in the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. All the teams will start reaching India next week. The warm-up games will start on September 29. Most of the teams have already finalized their squads for the coming mega event, while some are about to announce their teams.

However, with so much back-to-back cricket being played, a number of teams have been dealing with injuries to their key players. New Zealand are also one such team that has suffered injuries to some of their important players. Skipper Kane Williamson is hopeful to recover before the start of the tournament. But veteran pacer Tim Southee sustained an injury in the final ODI against England.

Tim Southee to undergo surgery before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Tim Southee suffered a thumb injury in the fourth and final ODI at Lord's last week while taking a catch. He didn't bowl his full quota and went off the field. He is an important member of the Kiwi setup and is part of the World Cup squad. The New Zealand management believes that he can recover in time before the start of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.

Earlier, the scan suggested a fractured thumb, and he will undergo surgery on Thursday. The decision on his availability for the mega event will be taken next week. The Kiwi head coach, Gary Stead, stated that they are hopeful that he can recover in time. New Zealand will be playing the tournament's opener on October 5 against England in Ahmedabad. Southee is New Zealand's third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs with 214 wickets.

Stead said, "We've got our fingers crossed the surgery goes well for Tim. He'll have some pins or screws inserted in his right thumb and, providing the procedure is a success, it will be a matter of ensuring Tim can tolerate the pain and manage the actual wound. Tim's obviously a hugely experienced and important figure in our team and we want to give him every chance to be part of this World Cup campaign."