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Southee back in the nets for Black Caps

Key quick removes all doubt over his fitness ahead of blockbuster World Cup clash

Friday

Any lingering fears for New Zealanders about the fitness of Tim Southee were put to bed this morning with the sight of the paceman bowling in a training session in Auckland.

Southee, who took a record-breaking 7-33 to destroy England last Friday in Wellington, was struck on the right shoulder by a stray ball at Black Caps practice yesterday.

New Zealand team management opted for the cautious approach and ended the star quick’s session early, before applying ice to the affected area.

Today however, Southee was back in the nets, allaying concerns over his participation in tomorrow’s highly-anticipated showdown with Australia, which looks likely to play a key role in determining top spot in World Cup Pool A.

Thursday

Star New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee has thrown a scare through the Black Caps’ camp two days before their World Cup showdown against Australia by hurting his right shoulder at training in Auckland this afternoon.

Our video wrap of Thursday training sessions and media conferences

Southee, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker who destroyed England last week with a career-best 7-33, was struck by a ball during fielding practice at Eden Park and immediately returned to the dressing room.

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Southee clutching his shoulder at Blacks Caps training today

He was a noticeable absentee from the start of the nets session that followed as ice was applied to his shoulder.

A spokesman for New Zealand Cricket said the paceman felt soreness and was deciding whether he would skip the training session, but indicated he did not believe the injury was serious and Southee had claimed he was in no danger of missing Saturday’s game.

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At the outset, it looked to be an innocuous blow that sent the 26-year-old to the turf clutching his bowling shoulder.

Southee had been stationed alongside fellow fast bowler Adam Milne just inside the perimeter fence where the pair was taking it in turns to catch high balls hit by one of the NZ coaching staff near the centre wicket.

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Teammates gather around Southee

It was as Milne was retrieving one of the white balls from inside the fence that he lobbed it to Southee who was standing about 10m away with his back turned, and the ball appeared to land on the point of his shoulder.

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The seriousness of the incident was undermined by the sight of several of Southee’s teammates laughing as the right-armer got to his feet and began ruefully turning his arm over as if to gauge the extent of the damage.

But when he did not appear to bowl alongside his teammates in the nets it became clear the matter was a little more significant.

Australia’s World Cup Fixtures

February 14: beat England by 111 runs at the MCG

February 21: match washed out at the Gabba

February 28: v New Zealand, 2:00pm at Eden Park (NZ)

March 4: v Afghanistan, 2:30pm at the WACA

March 8: v Sri Lanka, 2:30pm at the SCG

March 13: v Scotland, 2:30pm at Blundstone Arena

View the full fixture list here