Published: Oct 03, 2018, 04:19 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 03, 2018, 04:17 PM (IST)
New Zealand allrounder Corey Anderson will be focussing more on white-ball cricket in order to fast-track himself into the national side for the 2019 World Cup in England next year. The 27-year-old last played for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, following which a back injury put him on the shelf. Undergoing a successful surgery, the allrounder played for Somerset in the T20 Vitality Blast in which he scored 514 runs from 16 matches.
“I got a taste of [the World Cup] here four years ago and it was unbelievable,” Anderson told stuff.co.nz. “To try and give myself a chance to be involved in that again, that’s the driving force.
“I really want to be in that side. I want to be in there right now. There’s still that dream and still that goal. I think it’s probably just making sure I’m doing it the right way as well. Trying to earn [my place] back and earn the right to be in the side. Performing at that level is the next biggest thing you have to try and achieve.”
Anderson last played a Test in February 2016. With the World Cup approximately eight months away, Anderson has decided to opt out of first-class cricket competition to give himself a shot at world cricket’s biggest tournament. He will travel with New Zealand A to UAE where the side will play Pakistan A, a series which Anderson would want to make the most of. The New Zealand selectors have decided to keep two slots open based on the performance for New Zealand A and Anderson, New Zealand’s fastest ODI centurion, would be keen on making amends.
“It’s the first time I’ve got to the top of my mark and not had to be worried about if I was going to be sore or hurting in any different area,” he said. “It’s given me that little bit of love back in the game, which you tend to lose sometimes when you get bummed out with injuries. It’s nice to feel like I’ve got my body back and I can get stuck into it.
“Although the surgery was 12 months ago, it’s probably just being cautious around those things. I had my 12-month scan last week to make sure everything was great and I got the all-clear to say everything was spick and span.
“To have everything back and heading in the right direction gives your psyche a massive boost.”
