ICC World T20 2016: Ross Taylor targets full fitness before the event
Ace New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor has said that he hopes to attain full fitness before the start of the ICC World T20 in India next month.
Taylor, who suffered a muscle tear on his left side, didn't feature in NZ's limited-overs campaigns against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. But on Sunday, on his return to competitive cricket, he captained North Island to victory against South Island in the Island of Origin T20 clash.
The batsman now hopes that he would be back to the requisite level of fitness before his team’s first game of the marquee tournament, which is against the hosts, India, on March 15.
“It was good to get through that [injury], and I'm confident it will get a lot better, come the next couple of weeks,” Taylor told NZN.
“The physios tell me that it's good to stretch it out and over time it will loosen off. I'm sure by the time we play our first game, it's going to be 100%.”
The Kiwi batsman, who has been out of competitive action for a month, scored an unbeaten 16-ball 26 for North Island to guide them to a victory by six wickets against South Island in Wellington.
New Zealand have been placed in Group 2 containing India, Pakistan, Australia and a qualifier amongst Bangladesh, Oman, Ireland and Netherlands, for the Super 10 stage of the tournament.