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London: New Zealand seamer Tim Southee has been passed fit to play in the first Test against England at Lord's on Thursday.
The 24-year-old paceman limped out of action during last week's drawn match with the second-string England Lions in Leicester, the tourists' final match before the first of a two Test series that culminates later this month at Headingley.
But having had a scan on the sore left toe that was hampering him and seen a specialist, Southee has now been given the all clear.
Had he been sidelined, the tourists would have had to lean heavily on left-arm quicks Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, who starred in the drawn 0-0 series across three Tests against England in New Zealand two months ago, and the fit-again Doug Bracewell.
However, with 24 Tests behind Southee is a seasoned Test player and New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was glad to have him available for the series opener.
Wagner might have played in any case, as New Zealand's leading wicket-taker in the three recent draws.
