Leading New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor isn't allowed to hit a cricket ball until at least October as he recovers from an injury he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.
Taylor underwent testicular surgery in Harare two weeks ago, midway through the Black Caps' tour of Zimbabwe after being struck while batting in the nets against legspinner Ish Sodhi.
It ruled him out of the remainder of that tour and the current limited overs visit to South Africa.
Blows to the private parts are often painful to those affected and humorous to onlookers, but Taylor was struggling to see the funny side of his enforced rest.
"Any time you get hit on the box, or in my case missing the box, there's always a bit of pain," he told Radio Sport.
He was initially told recovery would take two-three months but that has been upgraded to less than two months because of good healing.
Training is off the itinerary for another six weeks because another blow to the testicles would be a serious setback.
"I've just got to make sure that I don't get hit again and I should be fine," he said.
"There's not a lot of cricket on now so the focus is getting ready for the first Test in Australia."
Taylor's rate of improvement could have him ready for the Black Caps' tour-opening game against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on October 23. The first Test is in Brisbane two weeks later.
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