New Zealand will be without Matt Henry for the Champions Trophy final against India. The fast bowler sustained a shoulder injury during the semi-final match against South Africa on March 5th in Lahore. Nathan Smith has been called in to replace Henry in the New Zealand lineup for the final.
Concerns about Henry’s fitness for the final arose earlier when New Zealand coach Gary Stead mentioned that scans were conducted and they were giving Henry every possible chance to recover in time. However, it remained uncertain at that point.
Despite participating in New Zealand’s training sessions before the match, it appears the team management decided against risking Henry for such a crucial game. While captain Mitchell Santner didn’t explicitly mention Henry’s injury at the toss, the decision to field Nathan Smith suggests they prioritized caution.
Matt Henry, who was the leading wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy with ten wickets before the final, injured his shoulder while attempting a catch to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen in the semi-final. He briefly left the field but returned to bowl later in the innings and was also seen fielding.
Initially, both captain Mitchell Santner and coach Gary Stead expressed optimism about Henry’s recovery, highlighting that he managed to bowl after the injury.
Henry’s contribution has been vital to New Zealand’s journey to the final. Notably, in their only defeat of the tournament against India in the group stage – their final opponents as well – Henry took a five-wicket haul. That match, like the final, was also held in Dubai.
For the final, New Zealand chose to include all-rounder Nathan Smith in place of Henry, opting against another fast bowling option like Jacob Duffy. Smith previously played in New Zealand’s opening Champions Trophy match against Pakistan in Karachi. In that game, he took one wicket in two overs and didn’t bat, as New Zealand secured a 60-run victory.
