Devon Conway faces massive T20 World Cup role with Black Caps after horror summer
Monday, 27 May 2024
ANALYSIS: Devon Conway won’t have played for more than three months when the Black Caps start their Twenty20 World Cup campaign.
He’ll also be coming off a forgettable summer season at home.
But the opener-wicketkeeper seems likely to still be given a massive role when New Zealand begin the tournament with a crucial group match against Afghanistan in Guyana on June 8.
Conway said on Monday at Auckland Airport - as he departed for the men’s 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States - that his left thumb has fully healed after a break led to surgery in February.
That means he’s also set to be given the keeping duties - Tim Seifert wasn’t selected in the 15-man squad, while Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips are very much in the part-time glovesman category compared to Conway at international white-ball cricket.
Allen is also battling a back injury, which may result in greater weight on Conway’s ability to contribute heavily with the bat at the top of the order.
“It has been quite a slow process for me, but luckily I've had time on my side,” said Conway of his recovery.
He suffered the injury while wicketkeeping early in the second game of NZ’s T20 series against Australia at Eden Park on February 23.
Conway didn’t bat in that innings or the third and final encounter, and was later ruled out of the two-test series against Australia.
It also meant he missed the entire Indian Premier League tournament, although he did train with his Chennai Super Kings franchise as he worked his way back to fitness.
“It's been about nearly three months since I've last played, so I've had that opportunity to have the surgery, do the rehab and get back up to speed,” he said on Monday..
“It's tracking along nicely and I just can't wait to join the group.
“The first time I had a hit was probably over a month ago - just sort of slow and steady … I had a lot of time on my hands, so for me I didn't need to feel the rush to get back up to full speed. Going over to India has given me the opportunity to have high-intensity net sessions and get back up to speed.”
Before his injury, the left-hander had struggled horribly for runs.
His 63 from 46 balls in the T20 opener versus Australia in Wellington ended a run of 20 international successive score below 46 across all formats
It led to Black Caps coach Gary Stead insisting Conway no longer had any problems with his eyes after failing in the two-test series against an understrength South Africa. It was understood when the Black Caps played their two-test series in Bangladesh late last year, he suffered a health ailment during the tour which notably affected his eyes.
Conway admitted he was frustrated with his form before the injury occurred.
“That's natural. It doesn't always go the right way for you at times … the last time I had a hit was against Aus, scored 60-odd off 40 or whatever it might be, so I can take confidence in that last innings.”
Conway’s T20I strike-rate is 129.02 - which was made to resemble a turtle’s pace at this season’s IPL.
But the Black Caps brains trust expects run-scoring to be notably more difficult on the slower pitches in the West Indies - NZ will play all their matches in the Caribbean - and may look to Conway and captain Kane Williamson to set the pace of the innings.
Black Caps T20 World Cup squad: Kane Williamson (capt), Finn Allen, Trent Boult, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee. Travelling reserve: Ben Sears.
Black Caps schedule (NZT):
Sat June 8: v Afghanistan, 11.30am
Thu June 13: v West Indies, 12.30pm
Sat June 15: v Uganda, 12.30pm
Tue June 18: v Papua New Guinea, 2.30am
Thu June 20 to Tue June 25: Super Eights
Thu June 27: 1st semifinal in Trinidad, 12.30pm
Fri June 28: 2nd semifinal in Guyana, 2.30am
Sun June 30: Final in Barbados, 2am