Cricket-Williamson's World Cup hopes in doubt with fractured thumb, Blundell named cover

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - New Zealand Practice - Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India - October 4, 2023 New Zealand's Kane Williamson during practice REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo

CHENNAI (Reuters) - New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the team's immediate World Cup matches with a fractured thumb, but head coach Gary Stead is optimistic the batter will be back in action at some stage of the tournament.

After spending nearly seven months on the sidelines with a knee injury, Williamson made 78 not out in his return to action in the team's comprehensive victory against Bangladesh on Friday.