Chennai Super Kings face a setback in their race to defend another IPL title as Devon Conway is expected to be unavailable until May due to a thumb injury. The reigning player of the match in last year’s final against Gujarat Titans, Conway is set to undergo surgery on his left thumb this week, leading to a minimum eight-week absence from the game.
Sustaining a thumb injury during the recent T20I series against Australia, the 32-year-old missed the opening Test as a consequence. Following medical advice, the decision was made to undergo surgery. Given the estimated recovery time of at least eight weeks, it’s highly probable that Conway will be unavailable for more than half of the tournament, scheduled to commence on March 22 and likely conclude by the end of May.
Henry Nicholls, initially brought in as a replacement for Conway in the first Test against Australia, will continue to be part of the squad for the second match. On the other hand, Neil Wagner’s aspirations for a farewell Test match were dashed as it was confirmed that he wouldn’t be selected as a replacement for the injured Will O’Rourke. The fast bowler is dealing with a left hamstring strain and requires a minimum of two weeks of rest.
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New Zealand has replaced him in the squad with Ben Sears, who boasts an impressive record of 58 wickets in 19 first-class games. Despite having experience in T20Is for New Zealand, including the recent series against Australia, Sears is yet to make his Test debut. Head coach Gary Stead expressed confidence in the young bowler, stating, “Ben possesses a quality skill set. His genuine pace and ability to generate good bounce are valuable assets in red-ball cricket. We’ve been thoroughly impressed by his performances for the Blackcaps in white-ball cricket this summer and believe he can successfully transition to the Test arena if the need arises.”
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