(Cricket news) New Zealand’s all-rounder Michael Bracewell is set to be dropped for the next six to eight months after fracturing his right achilles while batting for the Worcestershire Rapids in the English T20 Blast 2023. The reigning ANZ Men’s ODI Player of the Year will undergo surgery in the United Kingdom this Thursday before beginning a lengthy reconditioning which will rule him out of the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India this October-November, 2023.

BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said it was a big loss for Bracewell and the team.“Firstly, you always feel for the player when injury strikes, especially when it means they will have to miss a world event,” Stead said. “Michael’s a fantastic team man and has had a great 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 sport and he’s now turning his focus to his rehabilitation.”

Bracewell, who has been away from New Zealand since April after being called up to the IPL, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, won’t be able to fly home for a couple of weeks following surgery. The BLACKCAPS will hold simultaneous winter training camps at Lincoln and Tauranga from July 26–28 and August 9–11.

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