Cricket: McIntosh faces fitness test before final

Tim McIntosh. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland opener Tim McIntosh will undergo a fitness test this morning to check whether he will be ready for Sunday's national one-day final against Canterbury.

Lefthander McIntosh has been in spanking form since returning to the Auckland team after his involvement with the New Zealand test team ended in mid-January.

His five innings for Auckland have produced 313 runs at a strike rate of 95 and an average of 78.

Those numbers include two fine centuries, 121 not out in round robin play against Otago, then a terrific 161 from just 138 balls against the same opponents in Wednesday's semifinal eliminator at Colin Maiden Park.

About halfway through that innings, McIntosh jammed the big toe of his left foot into the ground setting off for a run after playing a cover drive.

After treatment, McIntosh resumed with a runner and turned up the heat as Auckland raced to 340 for five.

The diagnosis is a condition known as turf toe. It is sprained, bruised and tender but not broken. McIntosh has been icing it and has his fingers crossed. He's hugely frustrated too.

"If I can get through tomorrow there's a chance I'll play. If not, it'll be deeply disappointing."