New Zealand stand-in skipper Tom Latham has hinted that Kane Williamson could be fit for the 2023 World Cup clash against South Africa on November 1 (Wednesday), scheduled to be held at Pune.

Williamson made a comeback in the World Cup after a long layoff following a ruptured ACL sustained during this year’s IPL. However, he did not have the most memorable return as he retired hurt in his first professional game in over six months after copping a blow to his thumb.

The Kiwi skipper, batting on 77 then, ran a tight single against Bangladesh and could have been well short if Najmul Hossain Shanto managed a direct hit. While the ball missed the stumps, it ended up crashing into Williamson’s left thumb instead, with scans later revealing a fracture.

It ruled Williamson out for New Zealand’s next three games with Tom Blundell called in as cover, albeit unofficially. Williamson was still part of the New Zealand squad, with the management hoping he would be fit towards the latter half of the edition.

Latham has now provided the latest regarding Williamson’s fitness a day before the South Africa clash, saying he hopes he would be “ready to go” for the game.

New Zealand are dealing with a number of injury concerns in the World Cup, with Tim Southee having surgery for a fractured right thumb before the tournament. He is now available for selection but is yet to feature in the tournament. Quick bowler Lockie Ferguson walked off the field against Australia in their last game with an injured right Achilles, while Mark Chapman has a calf injury.

“We’ve got a few guys to get through a few fitness tests and once we train, we’ll have a clearer idea of what the XI looks like – so fingers crossed all those guys can get through a bit of work today at training and be ready to go tomorrow,” Latham said at the pre-match press conference.

“There’s Lockie, Kane and Mark Chapman. We’ll get through a bit of work today and then we’ll see how they pull up from a selection point of view. But yeah, obviously, Lockie went off in the last game with a bit of Achilles’ niggle, so fingers crossed he’ll be fine for tomorrow.”

New Zealand are currently third on the points table, with eight points from six games, and will enter the clash on the back of two successive defeats. South Africa have ten points, winning five in six.

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