Blackcaps coach Gary Stead is allaying any fears over the fitness of captain Kane Williamson, struggling with an elbow injury just days out from the Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE.
Williamson has struggled with a troublesome elbow issue since the 2020/21 home season, and has had to miss Blackcaps matches and series.
The master batter took two months off cricket, after the Blackcaps' World Test Championship triumph over India in June, missing his stint with Birmingham Phoenix in England's 'The Hundred' competition.
Earlier this month, Williamson said the injury has been a "slow burner", but after he top scored for the Blackcaps in their T20 World Cup warm-up defeat to Australia, his elbow is again causing issues, limiting him to the field in the warm-up loss to England.
Williamson still captained the side and coach Stead gives no indication that his captain will miss the Blackcaps' opener against Pakistan on October 27 at Sharjah.
"Kane's elbow's just flared up a little bit after the last match," he says. "Today was more precautionary than anything.
"We just feel if we can get his preparation right, in terms of not over-hitting and aggravating it through training, then it gives him the best chance to be right through the tournament.
"On the whole, we're tracking pretty well."
But the Blackcaps schedule at the World Cup may see Williamson forced to step out of certain matches, Stead concedes.
Drawn against Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and two qualifiers, the Blackcaps will play five matches in 11 days.
"I guess there's always that chance. I think we're still pretty hopeful and confident that if we get the rest right and get that balance right, he should be right to play.
"Kane is a prodigious hitter of balls and he loves to prepare that way as well. In some ways, that's probably the worst thing you can do, over-hit, at times.
"It's really getting that balance right for him, between feeling ready and feeling prepared to go, and making sure we don't aggravate anything any further."
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