New Delhi, May 16: Wicket-keeper batter Devon Conway is an exceptional cricketer. His absence is clearly visible in Indian Premier League 2024, as the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are still struggling to make an entry into the play-offs.
Conway's presence is a huge boost to his national side too. His injury has not only affected CSK in IPL 2024, but New Zealand team management is eagerly awaiting his return to the team for their campaign in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.
Updating about Conway's recovery, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said, "He’s fine and doing wicket keeping drills," ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Injured Conway has missed his time with the Chennai Super Kings, but he is still training with the team. The first-choice wicket-keeper for New Zealand, Conway and Finn Allen, haven't played since February because of thumb and back ailments, respectively.
Allen was still feeling a little sore, according to Stead, and he would be training harder during the team camp at Mount Maunganui.
When Conway gets back from India next week, the medical staff will evaluate him. "(He) is tracking nicely. He's been wicket-keeping and batting in the nets on a regular basis," Stead was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Stead, however, remained confident in preparations ahead of facing Afghanistan. "We've only got two players who haven't been to a T20 World Cup that are in this squad. That shows our group is experienced and they can lean back on those past experiences," he said.
Opting out of official warm-up matches due to logistical hurdles, New Zealand instead focused on intensive training sessions, drawing strength from the diverse experiences of their players.
Stead also acknowledged the difficulties of assembling the squad in the Caribbean but expressed confidence in their preparation despite the absence of warm-up fixtures.
"West Indies is a tough place to get to for a start, so it's not easy to get everyone to Trinidad and Tobago at the same time. For us, we don't have warm-up games. There's a number of guys who have been in the IPL for the last two months and we've also recently come off the tour to Pakistan.
"There's a lot of experience in the group who have played in the CPL before, so we'll be leaning on those guys and making sure the trainings we get prior to the first game puts us in a position of where we want to be," Stead said.
The 52-year-old further emphasised the importance of thorough planning in facing both familiar foes and lesser-known teams in the tournament. "Certainly looking forward to the challenge ahead and also the unknown of some of these new teams as well, the difference they might bring that we have to be really complete with our planning," he concluded.
If Conway and Allen are back, may be a full-strength New Zealand can dream to win their maiden T20 World Cup.
The Kiwis have also not won the ICC ODI World Cup so far. The only ICC multi-nation men's title they have ever won is the inaugural World Test Championship Trophy under Kane Williamson's leadership in 2021. (With IANS support)
