"I was lucky not to do really serious damage": Joe Denly hopes to seal Test spot following injury

The Kent batsman has his eye on the number three spot after 68 against New Zealand A in his first innings after damaging ankle ligaments saw him pass 12,000 first-class runs

Joe Denly believes he will be fit for next week's opening Test match in Mount Maunganui after England's medical team guided him through a rigorous rehabilitation programme on the ankle injury that kept him out of the T20 portion of their tour of New Zealand.

The 33-year-old has yet to miss a Test match since making his debut in Antigua mid-way through England's tour of the West Indies in January, however ligament damage sustained on the eve of this month's 3-2 series victory over the Blackcaps had cast doubt on his participation in the two-match series, starting November 21.

Speaking to BBC's Test Match Special after scoring 68 on the second day of England's three-day tour fixture against New Zealand A in Whangerei, the Kent batsman revealed that he feels close to full fitness and fortunate to be able to play a part in the remainder of the tour.

"It ballooned up straight away, but I think I was pretty lucky to be fair not to do some really serious damage," he said.

"I've been in a strict rehab programme, I've been on the ice machine every hour of every day, and yeah, I'm delighted to be back.

"I was in a pretty good place before all this happened in terms of my batting. On the back end of that Ashes series and doing okay there I think I've only come out a better player and more confident.

"One thing sitting on the sidelines does is it certainly makes you hungry to go out there and put the pads on and spend time in the middle, and I was lucky enough to do that today."

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Denly was one of three England batsman to pass fifty overnight, with his 147-ball innings steadying a side that found themselves 105 for 5 against a pace attack featuring Blackcaps' white-ball regulars Blair Tickner, Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham.

The innings from number four (behind nightwatchman Jack Leach) was Denly's 99th fifty-plus score in first-class cricket, with a six struck off spinner Will Somerville taking him past 12,000 career runs in the format.

The visitors reached 355 for 8 by the close of play, with Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler both scoring 88 to move England into a 53-run lead with one more day for players to cement their places before the Test series starts on Thursday.

While Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow had been recalled to the red-ball setup as cover for his injury, Denly hopes his performance can prove to captain Joe Root and new coach Chris Silverwood that he has what it takes to make the side and begin to secure a more permanent spot in the order, having rotated between two, three and four throughout his eight-Test career to date.

"I suppose it's still going to be a bit of a test with diving and stuff like that, but I'm certainly more and more confident each day on [the ankle] and yes, looking good for the first Test," Denly added.

"[The medical staff] were pretty confident that they could get me right for this warmup. Obviously it was important for Silvers and Rooty to see me play and improve my fitness, so I'm delighted to be able to do that.

"I was a little bit emotional when I was sitting in that changing room and it didn't look great, and I feared that my tour might be over. But, yeah, like I say I'm very happy to be here now. 

"I've said before, I'm pretty happy to bat wherever, but it would be nice to nail down one spot. Hopefully, given the chance in this Test series I can nail down that number three spot."

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