In a race against time, New Zealand’s frontline pacer, Matt Henry, is striving to recover from a shoulder injury before the Champions Trophy final.
Henry, who sustained the injury while taking a crucial catch during the semi-final match against South Africa in Lahore, has been a standout performer in the tournament, leading the wicket tally with 10 wickets at an average of 16.70.
Despite the injury, Henry showcased his resilience by returning to bowl two overs after receiving treatment, and even displayed his agility with a dive in the field. However, concerns about his fitness persist as New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead provided an update less than 48 hours before the final. Stead mentioned, “The positive is that he managed to get back out there and bowl. We’ve had some scans done, and we’ll give him every chance to play in the final. However, at this stage, it’s still a bit unclear. He’s obviously quite sore from landing on the point of his shoulder. Hopefully, he will be okay.”
Should Henry be unable to play, Jacob Duffy is poised as a ready replacement. While Duffy has not featured in any of New Zealand’s four matches so far in the tournament, he did play in the pre-tournament tri-series against Pakistan.
New Zealand is set to face India in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai on Sunday, March 9, marking their first appearance in the final since 2009.
