Weather hampers Taylor's recovery

Ross Taylor believes he has a 70% chance of playing against Ireland on Monday - provided the fickle Guyana weather holds out. Torrential rain stopped New Zealand from training on Wednesday and meant Taylor could not test his recovery from a hamstring strain.

He said the injury was improving but it had been disappointing to be on the sidelines so far in the Super Eights. "It's getting better slowly," Taylor told AFP. "It's been quite frustrating, but hopefully on Thursday, weather permitting, I can start sprinting and give it more of a test. Hopefully I will have a better idea of where I am.

"There was only a slight tear in the game against Kenya and it has taken two weeks to get over it. I ran at about 80% in Antigua. I am praying that I can start sprinting on Thursday."

The rainy conditions in Guyana could not only hinder Taylor's recovery but might also hamper New Zealand's efforts to keep up their unbeaten run. "It could put us back a little bit if it was to rain and we were to share the points with Ireland," Taylor said. "But if we can continue with the way we have been playing, I am sure we can overcome Ireland - if we do play."

The two teams have never met in an ODI but Taylor said New Zealand would be wary of Ireland after their upset win over Pakistan to qualify for the Super Eights. "It's obviously a team we don't play very often, if at all," he said.

"We just have to get information from the games they have played in the tournament. Hopefully, that's enough to get us through. If we can do that, then come semi-final time, we will be ready to go."

New Zealand and Australia are the only two unbeaten teams remaining in the competition. After they face Ireland, New Zealand's Super Eights campaign continues with a string of tough matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia.