McKenzie happy to be back Souce: Supercricket - 18 July 2003

Neil McKenzie was selected for both legs of South Africa's tour of England but an untimely back injury ruled him out of the Natwest one-day triangular leaving him to play catch-up when he did join the tour for the five Test matches which begin at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Thursday. The Northerns batting star did all that could be asked of him in the opening game of the pre-Test warm up period, however, with a pair of impressive half centuries against Somerset in Taunton. Not that he is taking anything for granted.

"All the specialist batsmen seem to be in form so it's going to be a real battle for selection ahead of the first Test," McKenzie told Supercricket after SA's game against Somerset ended in a draw on Thursday.

"It was a great pitch and therefore essential to cash in, so a couple of 50s wont do me any harm. I really felt I'd made progress during the tour of Bangladesh, in both forms of the game, so I was looking forward to being a part of the squad for the whole tour. But injuries happen - we all know that," McKenzie said.

With his back now fully healed, at least "until I know how it feels tomorrow morning," McKenzie has no intention of placing himself under pressure to fight for a Test place.

"I want it, obviously, but you can't allow yourself to be too desperate. I am just so chuffed to be back and part of the squad. When you're away for a while, watching the guys on TV, you realise how badly you missi it."