Follow UsWith less than 48 hours to go for the all-important Champions Trophy 2025 Final, New Zealand are still sweating over the fitness of their ace speedster Matt Henry, who injured his shoulder in the semi-final clash against South Africa while taking the catch of Heinrich Klaasen.
With 10 wickets so far, Henry is the highest wicket taker of this ongoing Champions Trophy edition. He is also the leader of the New Zealand pace attack, and has an exceptional record against India, against whom he took a five-wicket haul in the group stages last week.
But the Kiwis’ head coach Gary Stead admitted that Henry’s availability is ‘unknown’ even though he bowled a couple of overs against the Proteas after his injury.
"We've had some scans and stuff done on him, and we're going to give him every chance to be playing in this match. [But it's] still a little bit unknown at this stage,” Stead said today, reported ESPNCricinfo.
"He's obviously pretty sore just from landing on the point of his shoulder. Hopefully he will be okay,” Stead added.
Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy are the reserve pacers in the New Zealand squad; one of the two could replace Henry should the pacer not recover in time. Alternatively, the Kiwis could also draft in a batter in Mark Chapman or Devon Conway, go in with just two seamers and ask Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra to bowl 10 overs between them.
New Zealand are already without Lockie Ferguson, who sustained an injury prior to the Champions Trophy.