New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor believes he will be back to full fitness before the start of the upcoming World Twenty20 in India. Taylor, who captained North Island to victory in the Island of Origin T20 clash against South Island on Sunday, had suffered a muscle tear on his left side and been sidelined for over a month.
That injury ruled Taylor out of New Zealand’s home series against Pakistan and Australia, but the batsman was confident he would be back at optimum levels before his team’s first game of the World T20, 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 was reported as saying by 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%.”
Taylor, who last played an international match more than a month ago, stroked an unbeaten 16-ball 26 for North Island, helping the team to a six-wicket win against South Island in Wellington.
New Zealand are in a second-round pool for the World T20 alongside Australia, Pakistan, India and the winner of the qualifying pool played among Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands and Oman.