Worcestershire alll-rounder Gareth Andrew is undergoing a scan today (Monday) on the lumbar pedicle in his back – and hoping the fracture which prevented him bowling for much of last season has finally healed.
Andrew was only able to operate as a batsman after the opening four LV = County Championship games of 2014 in which he took 20 wickets in the new ball role.
But the 30-year-old has his fingers crossed he will get the green light to start building up his fitness so that he is ready and firing for the start of next season.
Andrew said: "I've got a scan today and so hopefully by the end of the week I should know where I am with the fracture and whether it is fully healed.
"It's been 16 months now since it first happened so it's been a long time with a fracture in my back.
"Hopefully, touchwood it will all be fully healed because there were only nine millimetres of the fracture to heal two and a half months ago. I've got to be confident."
The former Somerset player says the target is to be 100% ready for the first game of 2014.
He said: "I think this time, rather than trying to be fit for pre-season tours, we are going to build me up to get me fully fit for the first game."
Andrew has suffered injury setbacks during the past couple of seasons and wants to make up for lost time.
He said: "I want to play for as long as I can as a professional cricketer. It is something you are privileged to do."
*Gareth will be revealing later in the week how he and two of his county colleagues are preparing for life after the end of their cricket careers by undergoing work experience with a Worcester company.
