England seamer Stuart Broad says he could not have asked for a better build-up to the test series.
The 26-year-old right-armer injured his heel during a warm-up match in India three months ago. It is a condition he will probably have to manage for the rest of his career.
But he has announced himself match fit for the first test beginning in Dunedin on Wednesday on the strength of a solid work-out in England's four-day tour game against the New Zealand XI in Queenstown yesterday.
Broad was one of the more threatening English bowlers and took one for 35 from 15 overs.
He has been in pain at different times during the tour but going from bowling four overs in the twenty/20 series to 10 overs in the one-dayers has helped build up his resistance.
''This week, I'm expecting it to be a little bit tender at times but hopefully I'll just get used to it over the next month,'' Broad said.
''I could not have been happier with the way it [the ball] came out [yesterday]. I snapped into length nicely, got a bit of bounce and hopefully wake up [today] and feel fine.''
''It is going along OK in New Zealand and hopefully we are getting on top of it.''
While Broad said his heel injury felt fine he would know more by Sunday when the four-day game was history and he had bowled a few more overs.
''I'm certainly one of these guys who is pretty honest. I'd never go into a test match half-fit, because it just doesn't work.''
He hopes England will dismiss the home side before lunch and he will end up bowling 24-odd overs which ''is a pretty good work rate for a first innings''.
