T20 World Cup 2021 – NZs Hand injury rules Devon Conway out of T20 World Cup final and India tour

Hamza Hameed November 11, 2021

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New Zealand won’t bring in a replacement for the final or the India T20Is

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Devon Conway has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup final on Sunday against Australia, and the subsequent India tour with a broken right hand. Conway sustained the injury when he struck his bat just after being dismissed in the semi-final against England in Abu Dhabi. An X-ray on Thursday confirmed “a break to his right hand fifth Metacarpal”.

“He’s absolutely gutted to be ruled out like this at this time,” head coach Gary Stead said in an NZC release. “Devon is hugely passionate about playing for the BLACKCAPS and no one is more disappointed at the moment than he is – so we’re really trying to rally around him.

“It looked a pretty innocuous reactionary incident on the field, but the blow obviously caught the bat between the glove padding, and while it’s not the smartest thing he’s done, there’s certainly an element of bad luck in the injury.

“Devon is a great team-man and a very popular member of the side so we’re all feeling for him. Due to the timelines we won’t be bringing in a replacement player for this World Cup or next week’s T20 series against India, but are working through our options for the Test series later this month.”

Conway scored a crucial 46 off 38 balls at No. 4 in New Zealand’s tense chase of 167 before he was stumped off Liam Livingstone’s bowling. He also took up the gloves midway into the tournament, when New Zealand decided to bring fast bowler Adam Milne into the XI, as Conway, a specialist batter in the XI until then, took over keeping duties from Tim Siefert.

New Zealand had picked the same squad of 15 for the World Cup and the three T20Is in India starting on November 17, just three days after the final.

Conway, with an experience of three Tests who has a double-hundred to his name on debut at Lord’s, was also in the squad of 15 for the two India Tests that will be played after the T20I series. He was the second keeping option in the squad after Tom Blundell.

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