Cricket: Hayden cleared to tour

Australian opener Matthew Hayden is back to torment the Black Caps bowlers.

Hayden has been cleared to play in the upcoming series after battling pleurisy for a week.

He arrives with the team on Wednesday afternoon after Brisbane specialists assessed him on Tuesday.

Hayden says he was concerned because he did not know the longevity of pleurisy, but once he got the right medication, he improved rapidly.

He says that if he could not look at himself in the mirror and give the thumbs up, he would not be on the tour.

While he concedes he has had a tough time recently he says the week off has allowed him to refocus and also made him realise his love of cricket.

Hayden's lung capacity dropped below 50 per cent during the illness.

The opening match of the tour is the Twenty20 international on Thursday night on Eden Park.

- NEWSTALK ZB