Taylor unsure of first Test readiness

New Zealand

New Zealand top order batsman Ross Taylor is not sure if he'll be fit for the first Test against Pakistan on 9 November, saying his calf injury is still giving him some trouble.

Taylor has bee out of action since late September, and was forced to miss the ODI series against South Africa recently. He says he's back on his feel but not near full fitness, and he'll wait to see what the doctors say in the UAE.

Taylor said in the Dominion Post: "I feel okay but on Tuesday I was running at 75-80%. It's a little bit strange travelling on a tour when you're not 100% and hoping to get the other 20% when you're away.

"I've been able to bat over the last two weeks and felt it a couple of times but nothing major. It's probably going to be a push to play that warm-up game [on Monday], and see how they [medical staff] think it's going and whether it's good enough to play that first Test."

He added of his spin preparations: "I haven't hit as many balls as I would like. Over the next little while I'm trying to cram it in.

"I haven't faced a lot of spin lately; there's not too many spinners going around in New Zealand in the nets. I guess experience and the mental side of the game will come into it a bit more.

"It's a tough tour and it's probably not ideal preparation for me; I only watched the last day of the Test [Pakistan v Australia] and it was spinning sideways."

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