New Zealand star won't rush return ahead of T20 World Cup

Star New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips says he won't rush his comeback from injury as he races the clock to be fit for next year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Phillips hasn't played at international level since the ICC Champions Trophy event in Pakistan at the start of the year, with the 28-year-old battling a pair of groin injuries he picked up playing in domestic tournaments around the world.

The next installment of the T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka towards the start of next year and the Black Caps will be banking on Phillips' experience in the shortest format as they attempt to claim a first title.

And while the Black Caps are currently hosting the West Indies in all formats and travel to India in January for more white-ball fixtures, Phillips said he would instead return via domestic cricket in a bid to prove he can feature at the T20 World Cup.

"When you do both groins, the rehab and recovery is a little bit longer," Phillips said.

"At this stage, no date in mind. It'll probably be for (domestic side) Otago before coming back to the Black Caps side of things. I definitely need to test things in an environment before going into the international scene.

"Once my leg has been loaded enough to be able to perform the way that I do in the field is the main thing.

"I give everything 100 percent and if, at 100 percent, I'm a little bit weak, then I'm not ready to go. So we'll just wait until that stage

The chances of Phillips making it to a fourth straight T20 World Cup received a boost when he trained alongside his New Zealand teammates in Dunedin earlier this month and he admitted it felt good to be among his peers once again.

"Yeah, it's great, it (Dunedin) is obviously a little bit of a home, so I'm feeling with the boys here and getting back to see guys that I haven't seen in a while," Phillips said.

"You know we go around the world quite often and meet different boys and different teams, but to come back here it does give that sense of home and that sense of belonging with a family that you know."

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