Anderson’s World Cup cloud is driving
Corey Anderson’s past week in the United Arab Emirates summed up the frustration for new Black Caps coach Gary Stead.
As the matchwinning allrounder jets home for scans on his tour-ending heel injury, his status as a World Cup contender for next year’s big dance remains up in the air.
Fully fit, the 27-year-old power hitter, athletic fielder and leftarm seamer demands a spot in the Black Caps top XI as he did in their run to the 2015 World Cup final. A bludgeoning 44 not out, brilliant diving outfield catch and slick run out in his two Twenty20s against Pakistan underlined his value.
But, as former test opener Mark Richardson said of Anderson on Newshub’s AM Show yesterday: ‘‘It’s like owning a Ferrari and every time you take it out of the garage it breaks down.’’
Quite when Anderson will add to his 13 tests, 49 one-day internationals and 31 T20 internationals is unclear as medical staff determine the extent of his latest injury.
Being able to bowl, and back up from game to game, is the key for Anderson if Stead is to ink his name in his World Cup 15 for the UK next May. He shelved red-ball cricket in a bid to achieve it.
His most recent ODI was in Cardiff in June last year, and three months later Anderson underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his back, when the spine is fused with screws and titanium cable.
Christchurch surgeon Grahame Inglis’ success rate is high, as evidenced by the likes of Shane Bond, Hamish Bennett and Matt Henry.
Anderson was dominant with the bat for Somerset in the England T20 Blast but rarely bowled. He returned for New Zealand A in the United Arab Emirates, played three T20 and two 50-over matches including one 8.3 over spell where he took 2-34, but then the injury flared up, which meant