Injured batsman Kane Williamson has confound pre-test expectations this morning to be named in a New Zealand 13 for the opening home test of the summer against the West Indies.
When Williamson fractured a thumb fielding in Bangladesh last month, the timeframe for recovery meant it was highly unlikely the No3 specialist would have time to heal, let alone get in any match practice.
Williamson will be given as much time as possible to prove his readiness for the test, starting at Dunedin's University Oval next Tuesday.
"Kane has been in the nets batting and bowling and getting his intensity levels up," general manager national selection Bruce Edgar said.
"We're confident he should be right come Tuesday."
That's no guarantee he will play but even including him in the 13 says two things: the selectors recognise his importance to the team, with his batting and increasingly useful offspin; and they don't have full confidence in any of the short-term options to fill the role.
