Mills in doubt for World Cup

New Zealand may have to go without one of their most important bowlers in next month’s World Cup as Kyle Mills appears likely to return home to New Zealand from the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia and may be unable to join the team for their World Cup campaign in the West Indies.

The Auckland paceman has been out of action since last year’s Champions Trophy, a tournament in which he was one of the leading wicket-takers, with a debilitating knee problem and although he was fit to make a return for one match against Australia in Perth he has been in considerable pain since and has walked with a noticeable limp.

Mills, who has 89 wickets in 65 one-day internationals at an average of 28.21 and has improved to the point of challenging Shane Bond for the mantle of New Zealand’s leading pace bowler in limited-overs cricket, will wait to see if prescribed painkillers will make him more comfortable and allow him to bowl before he makes any decision on his short-term future.