Vincent stays with New Zealand

Lou Vincent had dismissed talks linking him to South Australia saying he won’t be following close friend Hamish Marshall in leaving NZ.

Hamish Marshall left New Zealand to join up with Gloucestershire in a four-year deal.

Vincent told the official Black Caps website that “I’ve been back pumping iron in the gym and running up hills, so I’m back up to 100 percent.”

“For the past six weeks I’ve been back in the nets and building up from a couple of days a week.”

“I’ve been working with the new ball a lot and I want to make it known that I’m looking for a top-order place, but I also just want to get back in the side in all forms of the game.”

“My goal is to play as much cricket as I can for Auckland and hopefully the Black Caps, and look to open for Auckland and then the Black Caps. But my main message is that I’m just looking to play.”

“I’m feeling good and I want to return to the side. I feel I’m good enough to open at Test level, and better than I was when I opened the batting previously.”

“But I’m just building up for the next tour, the next game and just looking to hit balls again.”

Vincent was named in New Zealand’s 30-man Twenty20 World Cup squad which will be cut to 15 when the final squad is named next week.