In the fourth ODI between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, a gripping encounter unfolded, marked by several injuries to key players on both sides. Tim Southee, the experienced New Zealand fast bowler, suffered a dislocated and fractured bone in his right thumb while attempting to take a catch. This unfortunate incident occurred during England’s innings when Southee tried to grab a catch off Joe Root, who was on 8 runs at the time. Southee immediately signaled his discomfort and had to leave the field, not returning for the remainder of England’s innings.
Injuries galore
Daryl Mitchell, another New Zealand player, also faced injury trouble as he dislocated his ring finger while taking a low catch to dismiss Jonny Bairstow. Finn Allen, who replaced Mitchell, suffered a laceration on his right-hand little finger when Root was given a life on 7 runs after a misjudged late cut. Root couldn’t capitalize on these chances and was eventually dismissed for 29 runs.
Ben Lister, the bowler responsible for Southee’s injury, had a tough day himself. After bowling six overs, he had to leave the field due to a hamstring issue. Fortunately, further assessment revealed that Allen’s finger injury wasn’t as severe as initially feared. However, neither Allen nor Lister is a part of New Zealand’s World Cup squad.
Despite these setbacks, New Zealand managed to put up a competitive fight in the match. Daryl Mitchell returned to the field and provided valuable support with seven overs of medium-paced bowling, taking crucial wickets, including that of Jos Buttler for 36 runs. In the end, England posted a challenging total of 311 runs for New Zealand to chase.
The injury to Tim Southee is particularly concerning for New Zealand, given that the ODI World Cup is just 20 days away. The team will be anxiously awaiting further assessment to determine whether Southee can recover in time to participate in the tournament.
This match was not only marked by injuries but also by the resilience and determination displayed by both teams. England and New Zealand showcased their competitive spirit in a thrilling encounter, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting ODI World Cup in the days to come.
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