Injured Tom Latham in doubt for New Zealand’s World Cup opener

Saturday, 18 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham is in doubt for the side’s World Cup opener against Sri Lanka on June 1 after suffering a finger fracture during the third warm-up game against Australia in Brisbane last week.

Latham had sustained the injury while keeping wicket and was later forced to leave the field for medical attention.

According to stuff.co.nz, the injury is healing and Latham has been cleared to depart to England and Wales with the squad on Sunday, but is in doubt for New Zealand’s two warm-up games and their tournament opener in Cardiff. If Latham doesn’t recover in time, Tom Blundell will become the first New Zealander since 1987 to make his ODI debut at a World Cup. Blundell was picked as the second wicketkeeper ahead of Tim Seifert, who has just recovered from a finger injury himself.

New Zealand chief selector Gavin Larsen confirmed that both Seifert and Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling were on standby but they will not travel with the squad on Sunday.

“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. “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.”