New Zealand is running short of players as they approach the third and final Test against Australia, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, set to begin on Friday (January 3), with three of their players – Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, and Mitchell Santner – falling ill. While the first two missed their second training sessions in a row, Santner was down with a bug on Thursday.
However, Tom Latham said he is hopeful that Williamson will be available for the Test even if there is a small chance.”[Kane] is a great leader amongst this group and he’s passionate about this group so I’m sure if there’s any chance of him playing, even if it is a small chance, he’ll certainly be playing,” Latham said on Thursday (January 2).
If the three players are unavailable for the Test, New Zealand will be left with only 12 players to choose from for the New Year’s Test. While there are ample options in the pace attack, Matt Henry should come in as a replacement for the injured Trent Boult. Jeet Raval, despite his poor form, should also return to the side to make up for the two lost batsmen, while Todd Astle and William Somerville will go uncontested if New Zealand play two spinners.
That combination, however, won’t do much good to New Zealand’s batting that has already struggled in this series, further damaging their efforts to bag a consolation win to push their case in the World Test Championship table.”We haven’t played our best brand of cricket and I know the guys are excited about getting out there over the next five days and trying to put a good performance on the board,” Latham admitted.
