New Zealand is facing a major setback as their regular skipper Kane Williamson is set to miss the 2023 ODI World Cup after suffering a ruptured ACL during the opening game of the IPL season. This has left the Kiwis with a big void to fill in their batting line-up, with Williamson being an integral part of their World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2019.
In light of this, former New Zealand cricketer Jeremy Coney has suggested that left-handed batter Devon Conway should take on the crucial No.3 position in the ODI batting line-up. Speaking to SENZ, Coney stated, "I wonder whether we should put (Devon) Conway to three. Therefore, I'd go on the hunt for another opener."
Coney also proposed some other options such as Henry Nicholls and Will Young, but he believes that Conway is a superior player and should be given a chance. He emphasized the need for partnerships between Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, and James Neesham in the batting line-up.
However, Coney also acknowledged that the absence of Williamson will be a massive loss for the Kiwis. He remarked, "You can't replace 160 games of experience filed away, that just drives decision-making in the game. He's a superior player, you can't stop him (from) scoring even off the good balls. He's also a collapse-stopper, good player of spin, good balance and that sort of a thing and he offers other players I'm sure, small bits of advice."
New Zealand will have to regroup and re-strategize their game plan for the upcoming World Cup without Williamson, but they will be hoping that the likes of Conway and others can step up to fill the void and take the team to new heights.