New Delhi:
New Zealand have been dealt a major blow with skipper Kane Williamson all set to miss the five Twenty20 Internationals against England starting on November 1 in Christchurch. Tim Southee will captain the side for the five games which will be the first encounter between the two sides since the epic 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final clash at Lord's three months ago. In Williamson's absence, Tim Southee will lead the side. Lockie Ferguson will play the first three games while Trent Boult will play the fourth and fifth games. Coach Gary Stead remarked that Williamson suffered the same hip injury that had troubled him in the Bangladesh Test series in March.
"It's disappointing timing for Kane at the start of an exciting Kiwi summer, but we feel it's the right decision with a busy season ahead. We're fortunate to have someone experienced like Tim who can comfortably step in and take the reins," Stead remarked.
Southee has captained New Zealand in Twenty20 Internationals six times and New Zealand have won five of those encounters. His only loss came in the third and final Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. This was the match in which Lasith Malinga took four wickets in four balls for the second time in his international career, making him the only player to achieve the feat.
New Zealand and England will play five Twenty20 Internationals with the first match at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The second match will take place on November 3 in Wellington followed by the third game on November 5 in Nelson. The fourth match will take place at McLean Park in Napier while the fifth and final game will take place at Eden Park, Auckland. The five-match Twenty20 International series will be followed by two Tests Mount Maunganui and Hamilton but these two games are not part of the ICC World Test Championships.
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New Zealand have a poor record against England in Twenty20 Internationals, managing just five wins and losing 10 out of 16 Twenty20 encounters. However, it will be interesting to see how these two teams shape up in their first encounter after the World Cup final, in which the match headed to the super over. Even the super over was tied and England were declared the winners due to a superior boundary count.
