New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry is set to return home following his team’s critical T20 World Cup Super Eights fixture against England. The veteran pacer is traveling back to be with his wife as they prepare for the birth of their second child.
Matt Henry to return home in middle of T20 World Cup
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has confirmed that Henry’s departure may only be temporary. Should the Black Caps successfully secure a spot in the semifinals, the door remains open for him to rejoin the squad later in the tournament.
The decision has received full backing from the team leadership. Head coach Rob Walter expressed his complete support for Henry, emphasizing the importance of family during such a significant personal milestone.
“Firstly, we’re all very excited for Matt and Holly on the arrival of their second child. It’s a very significant moment for their family and we’re wishing them all the best,” said Walter in a statement.
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New Zealand’s path to the semifinals is clearly defined as they head into their final Super Eights clash. A victory over England on Friday will guarantee the Black Caps a spot in the final four, allowing them to qualify directly without needing to rely on other results. However, should New Zealand lose to England, their tournament hopes will remain in limbo. In that event, their qualification would hinge entirely on the outcome of Saturday's match between co-host Sri Lanka and Pakistan. A defeat for the Kiwis would open the door for Pakistan, potentially leading to a tie-break scenario decided by Net Run Rate.
“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge but we’re hopeful that the stars align for the team and for Matt and that we’ll see him back competing in the final phases of the competition,” Walter added.
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The crucial Super 8 showdown between England and New Zealand is underway at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match began on a promising note for the Black Caps, who managed to secure a significant advantage early on by winning the toss. Following their success at the toss, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson made the decision to bat first on what is expected to be a challenging surface. By putting runs on the board immediately, the Kiwis aim to set a daunting total and put pressure on the defending champions right from the start.
“We're going to have a bat first. You have to win games if you want to win a WC. Nice to have a run on this wicket the other night. We know what it's going to do. Does look the same. Looked good last game and spun more than we thought. If it plays the same, we’ll stick to similar plans. But if it’s flatter, we’ll adjust accordingly. Yeah, we’re kind of used to that in New Zealand - playing with wind factors and different dimensions.. You try and use the dimensions in your favour. Same team,” Mitchell Santner said at the toss.