Williamson will miss the World Cup, scans confirm cruciate ligament tear

New Zealand Cricket have confirmed that Kane Williamson has torn his anterior cruciate ligament, making it highly unlikely the white-ball skipper will play at this year’s World Cup.

Williamson, 32, suffered a serious right knee injury while playing for the Gujarat Titans while serving in the Indian Premier League.

A normal ACL rehab takes about nine to 12 months, with the one-day world championship starting in October six months from now.

Williamson said he has yet to exclude himself from the tournament, which is being hosted by India.

“Of course it’s disappointing to sustain an injury like this but my focus now is on the surgery and starting rehab,” he said in a statement from NZ Cricket.

“It will take some time but I will do everything to get back on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Williamson will go under the knife later this month, with trainer Gary Stead saying the surgery would be delayed to allow the swelling to go down, in line with best practice.

“He’s unlikely to be available for the World Cup but we haven’t given up hope from our point of view,” he said.

“(Operation) is the first milestone to achieve.”

New Zealand are chasing their first World Cup success after a dramatic defeat in the final of the last edition.

England were crowned champions in 2019 with a border countback after a super-over tie.

Williamson, who was named Player of the Tournament, earned worldwide praise for graciously and heartbreakingly accepting defeat under the little-known rule.

Stead said his likely absence is “a huge strain in the works” for her 2023 bid.

“You first take the player Kane and then you take the leader Kane and also the person that he is in our group,” he said.

“Our first thoughts are obviously with Kane at the moment. It’s a tough time for him. It’s not an injury you expect to happen. It comes out of the blue and obviously hits you pretty hard.”

Williamson is considered New Zealand’s all-time greatest batsman and became his country’s leading test run scorer earlier this year.

Tauranga-born Williamson is no stranger to injuries having been plagued by a chronic elbow injury in recent years.

Aussies in IPL 2023

Capitals of Delhi: Mitch Marsh ($1.2 million), David Warner ($1.16 million)

Gujarat Titans: Matthew Wade ($446,000)

Lucknow Super Giants: Marcus Stoinis ($1.7 million), Daniel Sams ($135,000)

Mumbai Indians: Tim David ($1.53 million), Cameron Green ($3.15 million), Jason Behrendorff ($135,000)

Punjab Kings: Nathan Ellis ($135,000), Matt Short ($36,000)

Rajasthan Royals: Adam Zampa ($270,000)

Royal challengers Bangalore: Josh Hazlewood ($1.4 million), Glenn Maxwell ($2 million)

The numbers represent the auction price in Australian dollars at the time of sale