Former Blackcaps coach Mike Hesson believes surgery might be the only way to go for Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, after the star batsmen missed more cricket with his persistent elbow injury.
Williamson was withdrawn from the team shortly before the opening day of the second Test between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, having struggled with the injury for some time.
He recently struggled to train during the T20 World Cup before sitting out the T20 series against India.
He then played the first Test match against India, and while he wasn't at his best, his absence is a big loss for the team.
The Blackcaps are in a troubling position in the current second Test and appear likely to lose the match on day four on Monday.
Hesson accepted that the side’s play had been “poor”.
“We just couldn’t control the run rate in the first innings with the ball,” he told SENZ’s Mornings with Ian Smith*.
“We were poor, no doubt about that, we didn’t have a defensive option and weren’t able to apply any pressure from a batting point of view.
“So that left us in a pretty precarious position.”
What made the situation worse was the one man who has regularly saved New Zealand cricket was sitting in the stands.
Current coach Gary Stead suggested the 31-year-old captain could be out for a “sustained” period, and Hesson believes now is the time to “bit the bullet”.
“I think it’s got to the point where surgery is definitely required … I’m sure Kane will be the most frustrated of anybody,” Hesson continued.
“The fact he’s given it a huge amount of rest and it hasn’t recovered, he’s missed cricket throughout the last 18 months.
“Initially he had a hip issue, but this elbow has been going on for a long time.
“I think he’s got to choose a window, got to bite the bullet, get the operation done and then hopefully come back fully fit.”
The Kiwis next play two Test matches against Bangladesh in January at home.