Corey Anderson to join Black Caps in India for ODIs

TOP CLASS: Mount Maunganui resident Corey Anderson will join the Black Caps in India for the ODI series as a specialist batsman. PHOTO:FILE

The revival of Corey Anderson's international cricket career begins on Sunday when he flies out to join the Black Caps in India.

The 25-year-old all-rounder has been selected as a specialist batsman only for the five-match ODI series beginning in Dharamsala on October 16.

Anderson last played in March at the Twenty20 World Cup in India and has undergone extensive rehab to repair two stress fractures in his back that will continue to keep him away from the bowling crease in the short term.

The Mount Maunganui resident was excited to be back playing after a long period out of the game.

"It was a bit of a surprise really. I didn't think I was much of a chance because being that all-rounder helps the balance of the side and is always a massive factor to have in the team," Anderson said.

"This is my second time round [back injury] and you learn things from the first time and you try and fix those issues that you first had.

"I have had a chance to reflect on what has happened and see what I have to do to make myself better and make sure I keep moving my game forward, and not just stay on the park for a period of time.

"I am trying to adapt my skills so I can keep pushing it forward."

Anderson was looking forward to batting on what were expected to be batsmen-friendly pitches.

"I have played over there plenty of times and I imagine the one-day wickets will be slightly better than they are at the moment.

"It is exciting just to be back in that environment, back in the fold and in a different role."

He expected to be back bowling in competitive cricket soon but could not put an exact date on when.

"I have been bowling with Northern Districts at training and working on loading in the background and hopefully at some point I will get back into it.

"That will just be a gradual process to hopefully get it to where it needs to be.

"There is a lot of cricket to be played over the summer and this is a great starting point for me with five ODIs against India in India and what builds into a big home summer.

"So it is nice to be back in it at this stage and stamp my mark on what is going to be one of the biggest summers we have had cricket-wise."

Mount Maunganui now boasts Anderson, Kane Williamson and Trent Boult as resident property owners, with the Bay Oval continuing to flourish as a training hub and a high calibre international playing venue.

Anderson was hopeful another Black Cap would soon be joining them.

"Tim [Southee] is thinking of moving over and joining the clan but I am not sure when that will be happening.

"But when he does we will try to persuade him to play for the Bay so that will be a nice little bowling attack for the Bay of Plenty Pirates."

Corey Anderson
Age: 25
School: Christchurch Boys' High School
Lives: Mount Maunganui
Holds record for second fastest ODI hundred in history off 36 balls v West Indies, Queenstown, January 1, 2014
His strike rate of 114.80 in ODIs is fifth best in world for batsmen with 1000-plus runs
Has won five man-of-the-match awards for New Zealand - third behind Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson
In ODIs 630 of his 1016 runs (62 per cent) have been scored in boundaries