All-rounder Daryl Mitchell is aiming for a comeback in New Zealand’s second match of the Twenty20 World Cup towards Afghanistan on October 26, head coach Gary Stead stated on Sunday.
Mitchell fractured his finger whereas batting within the nets earlier this month and was dominated out of the tri-series in Christchurch, which additionally concerned Pakistan and Bangladesh. Stead stated the 31-year-old, had he been match, would have been within the taking part in XI for the primary match of his match towards hosts and champions Australia in Sydney on Saturday. “Absolutely unlikely to be available for his first match,” the coach instructed a information convention forward of Monday’s warm-up match towards South Africa in Brisbane.
“It’s more likely to be the second game, that’s what we’re targeting on the platform,” Stead stated, earlier than assessing the circumstances on the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier than discussing a doable taking part in XI towards Australia. It’s too early to do.
“I think, we’ll have to take a look at those situations, see what’s laid out in front of us before making some calls on that last 11.
“But by way of the construction of the location, we have tried to be fairly per it even by the triangular sequence.” Stead also confirmed that Glenn Phillips would be his backup wicketkeeper, behind Devon Conway, leaving Finn Allen to focus on his batting.
“I feel tomorrow Phillips will most likely take the gloves off for a bit.
“Finn Allen is an alternative choice for us, however I feel at this level we are going to most likely simply let him maintain going with the bat as he’s.
“He is an excellent fielder as is Glenn as well.”
In case of any tournament-ending harm to Conway, final yr’s runners-up New Zealand will fly to a substitute stump, Stead stated.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
