Why Has Adam Milne Been Ruled Out of the T20 World Cup?
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Wellington, Jan 23 (NationPress) New Zealand's right-arm fast bowler Adam Milne has been excluded from participating in the ICC T20 World Cup due to a torn left hamstring. Kyle Jamieson will take his place in the squad, as confirmed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Friday.
The injury occurred while Milne was bowling in the SA20 on Sunday, with follow-up scans indicating the severity of the damage.
“We’re all disappointed for Adam. He had put in tremendous effort to prepare for the tournament and appeared to be in excellent form during his eight matches for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers. The timing is unfortunate, and we wish him a swift recovery,” stated head coach Rob Walter.
Jamieson, who is currently part of the white-ball series in India, has been incorporated into the T20 World Cup squad after initially being named a traveling reserve for the mega event taking place in India and Sri Lanka.
Walter expressed confidence in Jamieson as a suitable substitute.
“It’s fantastic that Kyle is already here with us in India. He plays a crucial role in our pace-bowling lineup and has made a strong start on this tour.
“Kyle is a diligent player with a robust skill set and experience that will benefit him during the tournament,” he added.
Milne has been part of New Zealand's squad in several T20 World Cups, including the 2012, 2016, 2021, and 2022 tournaments.
He has participated in 11 T20 World Cup matches, claiming six wickets for New Zealand.
The 33-year-old pacer has achieved 65 wickets in 56 T20I matches since making his debut for the Kiwis in 2010. Overall, Milne has taken 258 wickets in 226 T20 matches, with an average of 23.23 and an economy rate of 7.89.
New Zealand is positioned in Group D, alongside South Africa, Afghanistan, UAE, and Canada for the T20 World Cup.
The team will commence their campaign on February 8 against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.