Kane Williamson is out of the second test with a viral illness. Picture / AP
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is gradually recovering from the viral illness which kept him out of the second test.
Williamson cut a gaunt figure in the team hotel yesterday but was in good spirits as he prepared to literally "get back on the bike" at a gym session.
He is yet to return to the nets in preparation for the third test at Indore.
Regardless, his recovery is welcome news for a team preparing to respond after losing the series to India with a 178-run defeat in Kolkata.
The 26-year-old has played 13 of his 53 tests in Asia to average 47.82, compared with his career mean of 51.05. That drops to 38.72 from six tests in India where he scored a century on debut in Ahmedabad in 2010.
"He's making good progress, certainly better than a few days ago, and hopefully he can continue to improve," coach Mike Hesson said.
Stand-in captain Ross Taylor, who with Williamson has formed the finest 3-4 combination in New Zealand's cricketing history, urged for the No.3's return to deal with an Indore pitch expected to spin more than Eden Gardens.
"It's been good to see him walking about. I'm sure he'll be a bit lethargic over the next couple of days [because] it's still pretty tiring losing a few kilos and being stuck inside.
"But there are positive signs he'll be ready for the next match, and it will obviously be good for the team to have our skipper back.
"Anytime with your skipper and best player out is disappointing but there have been times when Kane hasn't played one-day internationals and this probably isn't going to be the last time.
