Cricket: Mills fitness on the improve as he targets Cup

Kyle Mills is confident. Photo / Photosport

Kyle Mills has given himself every chance of being selected in New Zealand's 15-man World Cup squad on Thursday, after a groin injury threatened to continue his jinx at the quadrennial tournament.

Mills suffered the niggle bowling in the nets ahead of last month's second one-day international against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The 35-year-old says he has completed "four bowling sessions off the long run, but not quite at full tilt" as he attempts to be fit for New Zealand's nine ODIs against Sri Lanka and Pakistan and two preparatory games against South Africa and Zimbabwe before their World Cup opener against Sri Lanka in Christchurch on February 14.

"It's four weeks since the injury and I'll be more than ready for the World Cup," he said. "Auckland played three games at home so I used the grass facilities at Eden Park with them. I'm hoping to be back playing midway through the month."

If necessary, Mills can limber up for the ODIs with Ford Trophy matches for Auckland against Wellington on January 12 or Northern Districts on January 18. Otherwise he could make a direct return to the New Zealand squad.

Fitting six pace bowlers into a likely five vacancies is one of the toughest selection conundrums in New Zealand ODI history.

Trent Boult and Tim Southee appear certainties. After that, a verdict is required on whether to take Mills' experience, Matt Henry's subtlety, Mitchell McClenaghan's aggression or Adam Milne's pace. Hamish Bennett and Doug Bracewell remain on standby for a crisis.

Henry's phenomenal series against Pakistan, when he took 13 wickets at 16.30, has since been tempered by two wickets at 105 and an economy rate of 8.40 in three Ford Trophy matches for Canterbury. In comparison, Auckland's Mitchell McClenaghan has 11 wickets at 9.36 while conceding just 3.91 runs an over and Central Districts' Adam Milne has five wickets at 23.20 and an economy rate of 7.10.

Mills' 237 ODI wickets have come at a mere 26.94 and handy modern-day economy rate of 4.73 in 167 matches. He's made 1017 runs at 15.64 and a strike rate of 80, including two half-centuries.

Such a pedigree heading into a World Cup is precious but last year his seven wickets came at 44.14, so he needs to find form. It would be cruel if Mills misses out at home in a career of service which saw him ranked as the world's No 1 ODI bowler in 2009.

Regardless, Mills' injury came at an appalling time as he contemplates what would likely be a final World Cup.

In an almost 14-year international career, Mills has played just four World Cup matches. He bowled six overs in 2003 and played Zimbabwe, Pakistan and Canada in 2011 before straining his left quadricep. A knee injury curtailed his chances of attending in 2007.