The shoulder injury Matt Henry acquired during the semi-final in Lahore can make him absent for the Champions Trophy final.
Although Henry, the tournament’s greatest wicket-taker thus far, had damaged his shoulder catching the catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen, he returned to bowl two overs late in the game against South Africa. After returning, he was also observed diving in the field.
Shortly following the Wednesday game, Mitchell Santner had been hopeful about Henry’s availability. However, head coach Gary Stead has since claimed that Henry’s fitness level was “unknown” a little more than 48 hours ahead of the championship.
“I guess the positive thing from our perspective is he got back out there to bowl,” Stead remarked. “We’re going to give him every opportunity to be participating in this match; we have had some scans and other activities done on him.
At this point, though, it’s still a bit of unknown.
At this Champions Trophy, Henry has ten wickets averaging 16.70. Five of those wickets came during the group game against India in Dubai, their opponent and the final’s location.
“He’s clearly rather sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder,” Stead remarked. ” Hopefully he will be alright.”
Should Henry be unable to participate, New Zealand boasts right-arm seamer Jacob Duffy on their roster. Duffy did have an outing against Pakistan in the pre-tourney tri-series held there, although he has not participated in any of New Zealand’s four matches in the event. That game he took one for 48 in seven overs.
