Gary Ballance is “pretty much back to full fitness” and “raring to go now” in the World Cup.
The top-order batsman suffered a fractured finger in mid-January, which ruled him out of the Tri-Series although he remained with the England squad during his recovery.
Head Coach Peter Moores confirmed that Ballance is in contention for England’s two World Cup warm-ups, versus West Indies on Monday and Pakistan on Wednesday, which are preparation for their tournament opener against Australia next Saturday.
Speaking today in Sydney, Ballance said: “I’m pretty much back to full fitness. I’ve had a few net sessions the last week, faced some bowlers and it’s been absolutely fine.
“I got hit in the finger once and didn’t feel anything from that, which is obviously good news, and then did a bit of fielding in the last few days. So hopefully in a week I’ll be 100 per cent and ready to go if called upon.”
Gary Ballance, @joeroot05 and @josbuttler getting through the bats rapidly here! #cwc15https://t.co/X7qwH35LAl
— ICC (@ICC) February 7, 2015
Having been left out of England’s tour to Sri Lanka late last year, although he linked up with the England Performance Programme there, Ballance has not played since the end of the county season.
The left-hander is therefore unlikely to make England’s first-choice team at the start of the World Cup, but is nevertheless eyeing a chance in at least one of the warm-ups.
“It’s all good having nets but as a batter or even a bowler you want to have time in the middle,” he added.
“If I do get a game in the warm-ups then hopefully I can spend some time in the middle and just be ready if needed.”
Ballance, who starred in Tests last summer with three tons, concluded: “It’s good to get back into it and I’m raring to go now.”