New Zealand wicketkeeper Devon Conway is out of the T20 World Cup Final, with x-rays confirming he has a broken right hand.
Here’s where it gets weird. Conway broke his hand after he was dismissed, a freak accident where he struck his bat in frustration after being dismissed, stumped for 46 off 38.
"He's absolutely gutted to be ruled out like this at this time," New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.
"Devon is hugely passionate about playing for the Black Caps and no one is more disappointed at the moment than he is - so we're really trying to rally around him.
"It looked like a pretty innocuous reactionary incident on the field, but the blow obviously caught the bat between the glove padding and while it's not the smartest thing he's done there's certainly an element of bad luck in the injury.
"Devon is a great team-man and a very popular member of the side so we're all feeling for him.”
Devon Conway has been ruled out of the @T20WorldCup Final and following tour to India with a broken right hand. Conway sustained the injury when he struck his bat immediately after being dismissed in last night’s semi-final. More Info | https://t.co/LCMOTJqmqc #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JIm9o6Rhxe
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 11, 2021
The injury also rules Conway out of the India tour, with the Kiwis ruling out bringing in a replacement player for the final.
"Due to the timelines we won't be bringing in a replacement player for this World Cup or next week's T20 series against India, but are working through our options for the Test series later this month," Stead said.
Conway has averaged 50.16 with the bat since making his debut in 2020.
T20 WORLD CUP FINAL: WHAT TIME DO AUSTRALIA PLAY NEW ZEALAND?
Set your alarm or go straight through? It's almost the festive season afterall.
Australia will face New Zealand at 01:00am AEDT on Monday morning with captain Aaron Finch ho[ing against hope he once again wins the coin toss and can bowl first.
The team chasing has won 11 of the 12 matches in Dubai.
