BLACKCAPS batsman Neil Broom is back, ready to go and has his hand up ready for selection after an injury cut short his season.
Back in March, during a Plunket Shield game for the Otago Volts, the right hand batsman broke his thumb ending his domestic season and shattering his selection hopes for the ICC World Twenty20 competition in the West Indies.
But all is mended, and he is keen to make a good impression with the BLACKCAPS selectors. “I was disappointed when I got injured before the Twenty20 competition,” he said. “But I got over it quickly.”
It’s been eight weeks since the injury and during that time he’s had surgery, had his thumb in a cast, then had it put into a splint. He’s focused on his fitness during that time and is ready to up-the-ante now that he is fully healed. “I’m working closely with Mike Hesson (Otago Volts Coach) with the view of being selected for the BLACKCAPS tour of Sri Lanka in July or the emerging players’ tour,” he said. “I just want to get back into it and work hard.”
He’s also working closely with Chris Donaldson and a number of Otago Volts players to ensure they stay fit during the winter months. “It’s getting pretty cold down here so we are spending a lot of time in the academy,” Broom said. “Chris (Donaldson) is working us hard and he’s doing a great job of getting us fit.”
Not only has Broom been busy in his professional life during the last eight weeks, he’s also had a busy time in his private life – he recently got married and honeymooned in Thailand. “I have the thumb cast removed for the wedding photos!” he laughed.
