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Matt Henry reduced to tears as shoulder injury rules him out of Champions Trophy final
New Zealand suffered a major setback to their campaign just ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy final. The Kiwis, who were hopeful for the timely recovery of their lead pacer, had to move forward without Matt Henry for the summit clash against India. The fast bowler injured his shoulder while attempting to catch Kagiso Rabada during the New Zealand vs. South Africa semi-final in Lahore. Initially considered a minor setback, the injury lingered long enough to rule the 33-year-old out of the final in Dubai.
Matt Henry dejected after failing to clear a late fitness test for India vs New Zealand final
Matt Henry was left heartbroken after missing out on a spot in the playing XI for the highly anticipated Champions Trophy final against India. The fast bowler failed to clear a late fitness test, drawing an unfortunate conclusion to the wait on his fitness call. The Kiwis evaluated him just before the toss, but after attempting some drills and bowling a few deliveries, Henry appeared uncomfortable. As a result, New Zealand opted for Nathan Smith in their final lineup. The 33-year-old was visibly distraught upon learning he wouldn’t be able to play and couldn’t hold back his tears.
BREAKING: Matt Henry is OUT of the ICC Champions Trophy final with a shoulder injury 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qmBvTmVsiD
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket)
Matt Henry, who currently tops the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with 10 dismissals in four games, picked up the injury while trying to take a catch in the semi-final. Despite being monitored by New Zealand’s team management after Saturday’s training session, the final call on his participation was made on Sunday during warm-ups, where he struggled while bowling. In the only change to their side for the final, New Zealand brought in medium-pace all-rounder Nathan Smith to replace him.
Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to bat first. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma continued his streak of losing the toss with the latest being his 15th loss in a row. India stuck with their winning combination, fielding an unchanged XI from the semi-final and continuing with their four-pronged spin attack.
