Ross Taylor Aiming For Australia Return After Groin Injury

New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor is making a steady recovery from a groin injury and is targeting a return to the side for their tour to Australia in October. Taylor was struck in the groin while facing Ish Sodhi in the nets just before the start of the third ODI in Harare. Such was the extent of his injury that he was ruled out of the Zimbabwe T20I and the series in South Africa. (Ross Taylor Ruled Out of South Africa Series)

The right-handed Taylor had to undergo testicular surgery and has been advised to not hit a cricket ball until October. Speaking to Radio Sports, Taylor said that he did not wish this injury on his worst enemy.

"Any time you get hit on the box, or in my case missing the box, there's always a bit of pain. I've just got to make sure that I don't get hit again and I should be fine. There's not a lot of cricket on now so the focus is getting ready for the series in Australia," Taylor said.

Initially, the injury ruled him out for close to three months but that has now been upgraded to less than two months, making him a likely starter for New Zealand's first warm-up game against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra.

New Zealand will start their tour of Australia in October with the first Test in Brisbane. The series will feature the first-ever day-night Test in Adelaide and it will also feature the use of the pink ball for the first time.