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Michael Bracewell ruled out of ODI World Cup due to Achilles injury
Follow UsThe all-rounder is set to undergo surgery after rupturing his right Achilles and will be out of action for six to eight months
The finalists of the 2019 ODI World Cup, New Zealand have been dealt with yet another severe blow ahead of the upcoming ODI world Cup set to take place later this year in India as all-rounder Michael Bracewell is ruled out of the competition due to an injury.
The 32-year-old ruptured his right Achilles while batting for the Worcestershire Rapids in the English T20 Blast and will undergo surgery on Thursday, June 15.
Bracewell has been a mainstay of the BlackCaps playing XI since making his debut in March 2022. The all-rounder was the star performer for the side in their pursuit of 350 runs against India in Hyderabad and smashed a scintillating hundred to help New Zealand get inches closer to the target.
Gary Stead, the Head Coach of the team, stated it was a big blow for Bracewell and the team. "Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes and especially when it means they will have to miss a world event," Stead said in a press release.
"Michael's a great team man and has had a fantastic 15 months for the BLACKCAPS since his international debut. We've seen his exceptional skills in all three facets of the game, and he was shaping as an important player for us at the world cup in India.
"Michael's naturally pretty disappointed but also pragmatic in acknowledging that injuries are a part of the sport, and he's now turning his focus to his rehabilitation," he concluded.
Bracewell will continue to recover in the United Kingdom for a couple of weeks after the surgery before flying back home to focus on his rehabilitation.