New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham could miss his team’s World Cup opener against Sri Lanka at Cardiff on June 1 due to a finger fracture he sustained last week.
Latham was injured during his team’s warm-up game against Australia in Brisbane.
The wicketkeeper was cleared to travel to the World Cup along with the rest of the squad and the injury is healing well, according to stuff.co.nz. But he could miss their warm-up games and opener.
Tom Blundell will stand guard behind the stumps if Latham becomes unavailable for their game against New Zealand. He could hence become the first New Zealander since 1987 to debut in an ODI game at the World Cup.
Tim Seifert – who is recovering from a finger injury himself – and test wicketkeeper BJ Watling did not travel with the squad on Sunday.
New Zealand chief selector Gavin Larsen told Trackside Radio confirmed that the medical staff will take a call on Latham’s availability.
“Whether he [Latham] takes his place in those warm-up games we’ll take a day-by-day approach on that, which will be down to the medical guys and Gary [Stead] and support staff when they’re over there,” Larsen told Trackside Radio, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“They’re both ready; Tim has come off the back of his finger injury, that’s OK, and BJ has been going well. We’ve got the different skill sets covered.”
