Flynn backing surgery to spur return
Veteran Northern Districts batsman Daniel Flynn isn’t ready to call time on his career.
A debilitating hip injury has limited the impact the former Black Cap has had over the past two seasons, but Flynn is optimistic recent surgery will have him fully fit for a productive summer.
The left-hander had an operation to fix a bone spur problem with his right hip and said all signs are encouraging.
‘‘I’ll be on crutches for two or three weeks, then go back and see the surgeon,’’ Flynn said.
‘‘The surgeon was happy. He’s really confident he’s managed to fix it, so I should be good to go.’’
Flynn was only able to play three Plunket Shield matches for ND in the 2016-17 season, one Trophy one-day match and missed the entire Super Smash Twenty20 competition.
‘‘It’s been a really frustrating time - it flared up right at the start of the season at spring training.
‘‘It has been an ongoing thing for a couple of seasons and has got progressively worse.’’
The regular ND captain said the hip would lock up.
‘‘It restricted my ability to move freely, which is a pretty important thing when you’re batting. Constant running irritated it and caused it to jam up.’’
However, an intensive rehabilitation programme should see him back to full fitness by the end of July.
Flynn is the most prolific firstclass century-maker in ND history and has played 24 tests for New Zealand - the last in January 2013 when he made a pair against South Africa in a heavy defeat in Port Elizabeth - averaging 25.95 while being employed in a number of different batting roles.
‘‘I still have plenty of desire and ambition - you have to if you’re going to continue playing,’’ Flynn said. ’’I feel I still have a lot to offer at 32 and still want to play international cricket.’’