Cricket: Blackcaps star Devon Conway recovered from broken thumb, primed for Twenty20 World Cup

Blackcaps wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Conway insists his broken thumb has totally healed and is ready for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup at the West Indies and USA.

Conway, 32, hasn't played since he left the field early during an injury-riddled T20 defeat to Australia at Eden Park.

He never appeared for Chennai Super Kings during the just-completed Indian Premier League, but used that time to rehab the injury and train towards the World Cup, which begins on June 1.

"It's good, thank you," said Conway, as the Blackcaps left Auckland for the West Indies. "It has been quite a slow process for me, but luckily I've had time on my side.

"It's been nearly three months since I played, and I've had the opportunity to have the surgery, do the rehab and get back up to speed. It's tracking along nicely and I can't wait to join the group.

"The first time I had a hit was probably a month ago, just slow and steady. I had a lot of time on my hands and didn't feel the need to rush to get back up to full speed.

"Going over to India allowed me to have high-intensity net sessions and get back up to speed."

Conway insists he has no reservations about keeping wicket in T20 internationals, a strategic move that allows NZ coach Gary Stead to stack his batting line-up.

"That was unfortunately the first time I've been injured whilst keeping," he said. "It was a pretty tricky ball to negotiate when it happened, but that's part of the job and I'm really fortunate to have the opportunity to take the gloves."

Conway remains the leading keeper in the squad named, with Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen - who replaced him after his injury - capable of covering.

Before the injury, he had struggled with the bat, failing to pass 30 in eight previous test innings and going a year without a century. He hadn't reached 50 in his 12 one-day innings, nor eight T20 innings, but had ended that slump with 63 against in the series-opener against the  Aussies.

With no warm-up matches before the World Cup, New Zealand will immediately meet the two next-highest ranked teams in their pool, Afghanistan and hosts West Indies.

"I think it's a great thing," said Conway. "You always want to play against strong opposition - Afghanistan first game, we know they're going to be very competitive, particularly in those conditions, with the ball spinning.

"If we can tackle that hurdle first up, we can create some good momentum heading into the rest of the tournament.

"It's always great to play against the hosts and no doubt there will be a great atmosphere at the ground. We know they play entertaining cricket, so it will be an exciting challenge."

The Blackcaps will wrap up their group schedule against qualifiers Uganda and Papua New Guinea.

Blackcaps wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Conway insists his broken thumb has totally healed and is ready for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup at the West Indies and USA.

Conway, 32, hasn't played since he left the field early during an injury-riddled T20 defeat to Australia at Eden Park.

He never appeared for Chennai Super Kings during the just-completed Indian Premier League, but used that time to rehab the injury and train towards the World Cup, which begins on June 1.

"It's good, thank you," said Conway, as the Blackcaps left Auckland for the West Indies. "It has been quite a slow process for me, but luckily I've had time on my side.

"It's been nearly three months since I played, and I've had the opportunity to have the surgery, do the rehab and get back up to speed. It's tracking along nicely and I can't wait to join the group.

"The first time I had a hit was probably a month ago, just slow and steady. I had a lot of time on my hands and didn't feel the need to rush to get back up to full speed.

"Going over to India allowed me to have high-intensity net sessions and get back up to speed."

Conway insists he has no reservations about keeping wicket in T20 internationals, a strategic move that allows NZ coach Gary Stead to stack his batting line-up.

"That was unfortunately the first time I've been injured whilst keeping," he said. "It was a pretty tricky ball to negotiate when it happened, but that's part of the job and I'm really fortunate to have the opportunity to take the gloves."

Conway remains the leading keeper in the squad named, with Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen - who replaced him after his injury - capable of covering.

Before the injury, he had struggled with the bat, failing to pass 30 in eight previous test innings and going a year without a century. He hadn't reached 50 in his 12 one-day innings, nor eight T20 innings, but had ended that slump with 63 against in the series-opener against the  Aussies.

With no warm-up matches before the World Cup, New Zealand will immediately meet the two next-highest ranked teams in their pool, Afghanistan and hosts West Indies.

"I think it's a great thing," said Conway. "You always want to play against strong opposition - Afghanistan first game, we know they're going to be very competitive, particularly in those conditions, with the ball spinning.

"If we can tackle that hurdle first up, we can create some good momentum heading into the rest of the tournament.

"It's always great to play against the hosts and no doubt there will be a great atmosphere at the ground. We know they play entertaining cricket, so it will be an exciting challenge."

The Blackcaps will wrap up their group schedule against qualifiers Uganda and Papua New Guinea.

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