White Ferns: Eden Carson to miss Twent20 World Cup title defence

White Ferns off-spinner Eden Carson will undergo elbow surgery, sidelining her for six months. Photo / Photosport

By RNZ Sport

White Ferns off-spinner Eden Carson will undergo surgery on her right elbow and is expected to be sidelined for six months, ruling her out of the team’s Twenty20 World Cup title defence.

Carson sustained a partial ligament rupture in her elbow during the team’s training camp in Dubai ahead of this year’s Women’s 50-over World Cup and managed the injury throughout the tournament.

The recovery timeline means she will not be available for the remainder of the home summer nor the White Ferns’ title defence at next year’s Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June and July.

With the injury affecting her bowling arm, head coach Ben Sawyer said the team had opted for surgery.

“We’re all really gutted for Eden,” Sawyer said.

“The team has a big six months ahead and I know how difficult it was for her to make the decision to go through with the surgery now, but I fully support it.

“It’ll obviously be a huge loss for the team not having Eden available, especially for the T20 World Cup, where she played a big role for us last year.

“At just 24 years old, she’s still got a long career ahead so it’s important we look forward and prioritise getting her back on the park and fully fit.”

New Zealand will next host Zimbabwe in February and March for three T20s and three One-Day Internationals in Hamilton, Wellington and Dunedin.

– RNZ