All-rounder Grant Elliott is ready to play through the pain barrier to ease the burden on New Zealand's bowlers in the second Test.
All-rounder ready to play through the pain barrier
All-rounder Grant Elliott is ready to play through the pain barrier to ease the burden on New Zealand's bowlers in the second Test against Pakistan in Wellington.
South Africa-born Elliott managed just two overs in his side's opening 32-run Test win in Dunedin because of an on-going knee tendonitis problem.
That left Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien and captain Daniel Vettori to shoulder the burden of bowling out Pakistan twice at University Oval.
However with O'Brien due to have scans on a dislocated finger, Bond missing the big toenail on his left foot and Vettori struggling with a shoulder injury, Elliott is determined to help out.
"It definitely hurts me not to be able to do that (bowl) because you saw how hard the bowlers toiled," said Elliott.
"It's tendonitis. I've just been battling with that a bit. I had it in Wellington but hopefully I can take a load off the bowlers."
The injury, though, means Elliott remains unsure how many overs he would be able to get through if called upon.
"It's about (bowling) loads and inflammation is at the time," he said. "It had good days and bad days."
Disappointed
Despite having become a key player in the one-day set-up with a batting average of 43.57 in 28 appearances, Elliott has so far failed to carry that form across to the Test arena.
However he is determined to improve on his current Test record which stands at 60 runs in four matches.
"My game is a lot different in Test cricket or in the longer form. I look to play the percentages and bat a long time," said the 30-year-old right-hander.
"I want to obviously score runs, more runs than I have done. I've been disappointed with my Test runs so far.
"It's runs and wickets at the end of the day. For me, every test innings I play I'm looking to establish my position and stamp my authority on the game. Hopefully it will be in this test."
"For me, I realise it now that's all mental and it's playing one ball at a time in Test cricket."
