CHENNAI, India, Oct 12 (Reuters) - New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will play his first match of the World Cup against Bangladesh on Friday but fast bowler Tim Southee will continue on the sidelines, the 33-year-old batter said on Thursday.
Experienced fast bowler Southee has been recovering following surgery on his fractured right thumb.
"Tim's progressing well, but won't be playing tomorrow's game," Williamson, who led his team to the final of the 2019 edition of the tournament, told reporters.
Williamson said they drew inspiration from the All Blacks, New Zealand's three-time World-Cup winning rugby team, who face Ireland in the tournament's quarter-finals on Saturday.
Looking at their next match, Williamson said New Zealand could not afford to underestimate Bangladesh especially at a spin-friendly venue like Chennai.
Persons:
Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Williamson, Southee, Tim's, it's, Amlan Chakraborty, Toby Davis
Organizations:
New Zealand, Bangladesh, England, World, Blacks, rugby, Thomson
Locations:
CHENNAI, India, New, Netherlands, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Chennai, New Delhi