Michael Vaughan says he is winning his fitness battle and is confident he will be ready for the start of next month’s World Cup. The England captain has been undergoing treatment on his hamstring injury and believes he is on target for England’s opener against New Zealand on March 16.
“It’s progressing nicely. I’m looking forward to getting on the plane a week on Friday and continuing my rehab out in the Caribbean,” said Vaughan. “The two warm-up games against Bermuda and Australia are going to be quite crucial. [I need to] get a bit of match practice. I’m looking forward to that first game against New Zealand.”
The 32-year-old will not put a figure on his chances of recovery: “I haven’t got a club about percentages. I just know I’m feeling good because of the treatment. Hamstrings are a funny injury and you never really know how they are going to react until you go and play a game of cricket. How much of a part I’ll play in the first [practice] game, I’m not too sure.
“I’ll certainly need to get out there and have a bat and get some middle practice and try to get some form going into that first game against New Zealand.”
Sussex have signed Saqlain Mushtaq on a two-year contract. The 30-year-old, who has spent most of the last three years sidelined with knee problems, will initially provide cover for Mushtaq Ahmed for the duration of the World Cup.
Saqlain is widely credited with inventing the deceptive delivery known as the “doosra” and was the fastest player to reach the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 one-day international wickets.
Mark Robinson, Sussex’s director of cricket, said: “The option of the two Mushtaqs bowling in tandem is a mouth-watering prospect.”
Tags: About, Cricket, Fitness, Upbeat, Vaughan, World
