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Reece Topley wants to consign his injury woes to the past but admits there will be some trepidation at boarding the plane to India for the defence of England\u2019s World Cup crown.<\/p>\n
Having overcome four separate stress fractures in his back, Topley appeared primed for a leading role at last year\u2019s T20 World Cup in Australia but he had to watch England\u2019s triumphant campaign from afar.<\/p>\n
A freak trip over a boundary cushion ahead of their final warm-up caused ankle ligament damage and, when he was on the comeback trail, Topley dislocated his shoulder at the Indian Premier League in April.<\/p>\n
Despite returning to fitness and England duty, the 6ft 7in left-arm seamer remains understandably wary of a setback especially with the 50-over World Cup getting under way in less than four weeks\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
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\u201cYou could say I have a bit of PTSD about getting on the plane again because it was pretty emotional coming back from the last (World Cup) injured,\u201d the 29-year-old said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut injuries happen in sport. You can only do so much to prevent them. I don\u2019t really think about it too much. It\u2019s just the nature of it: you get good days and bad days at the minute.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs you get older, the injuries do get a bit harder to come back from \u2013 just the nature of just being years older. It\u2019s not like you won\u2019t ever come back from it, it\u2019s just always a bit trickier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely wouldn\u2019t say I\u2019m out of the jungle in terms of my ankle and my shoulder but it\u2019s a case of doing the right things. Hopefully, the bad days just become less and less.\u201d<\/p>\n
It’s nice to be finding my feet again, hopefully just at the right time for India<\/p>\n
Topley owes his selection in England\u2019s provisional World Cup squad to last summer\u2019s stellar form, where he claimed 13 wickets in seven ODIs at an exceptional average of 16.38, going at less than 4.5 an over.<\/p>\n
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He is still getting back up to speed at international level again after a stop-start past year but after going wicketless in four ODIs, he impressed in Sunday\u2019s series-levelling victory against New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl, taking three for 27 in seven overs.<\/p>\n
After an economical first five-over burst, Topley dismissed Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra within seven balls in his second spell as New Zealand lost their last seven wickets in 39 balls to lose by 79 runs, leaving the four-match series delicately balanced at 1-1.<\/p>\n
While drawing satisfaction from his impact in a contest reduced to 34 overs per side because of rain, Topley believes he is still a long way off his best.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to thank the guys for showing that what I did last year didn\u2019t go unnoticed,\u201d Topley said. \u201cMy record in the format is pretty good. I like to think that I can contribute whenever needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s tricky playing and getting yourself back into it mentally and physically after some injuries. The game moves on and people move on and you obviously don\u2019t get the chance to because you\u2019re sidelined.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be finding my feet again, hopefully just at the right time for India. It\u2019s not the end of it now, it\u2019s just another good day. It\u2019s still a long way to go to be performing how I\u2019d like to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Topley has opened the bowling in every one of his 24 ODIs but backs himself to \u201ctake wickets in all stages\u201d, putting himself in the shop window for one of the fast bowling spots at the World Cup.<\/p>\n
England have six specialist options, including three left-armers in Sam Curran, David Willey and Topley, who recognises competition is fierce.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI can only do so much as a new-ball and death bowler that it\u2019s hard to leave me out,\u201d Topley added ahead of Wednesday\u2019s third ODI against the Black Caps at the Kia Oval, his home ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what all of us in the changing room want to do is just to make those decisions tough, but with the talent that we have, it\u2019s always going be a tough decision \u2013 for the 15, or the 11.\u201d<\/p>\n