Most Otago players leaving injuries behind

IT is about a month too late but Otago’s injury concerns are finally lifting.

Black Caps spinner Mark Craig is making pleasing progress following back surgery in February and will return to the bowling crease at the start of August.

The 30yearold offspinner missed the entire domestic season. Initially he was sidelined when a side strain forced him to return home early from the Black Caps’ tour of India.

He resumed training briefly but injured his knee in a fall and then an old back complaint flared up.

‘‘He is on the mend,’’ Otago Cricket Association performance and talent manager Simon Forde said.

‘‘He had a couple of hiccups after surgery but he is on top of it and is looking at starting his rehabilitation phase.’’

Opener Hamish Rutherford’s season came to an early end in midJanuary when he was ruled out with a bulging disc.

It was hoped he would return towards the end of the season but the lefthander is still struggling with the complaint.

‘‘It is an ongoing thing and we don’t know when he is returning to training or anything like that,’’ Forde said.

‘‘His recovery has not gone as well as what the medical team were hoping.

‘‘From what I know, it does not require surgery. It is just one of those painful back injuries that won’t go away.’’

The news is much better for fellow toporder batsman Ryan Duffy. He broke a bone in his hand during a trial game in February and was close to being fit by the end of the season.

Allrounder Josh Finnie also broke a bone in his hand and had surgery in February. The ‘‘wires’’ were removed earlier this month and both players are ‘‘ready to go’’ when training resumes in June.

Fast bowler Warren Barnes suffered a stress reaction in his right foot while bowling in the nets before the Black Caps test against South Africa in Dunedin. He had only just recovered from a dislocated shoulder that had kept him off the field since before Christmas.

‘‘He is good. He is on an overseas trip but will be back here in June and back into it.’’

Wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder got through the season but needed some corrective surgery on his knee at the end of the season and is recovering well.