The Canterbury pace bowler Hamish Bennett concedes there were times he thought he might never player cricket again.
Bennett has been brought into the Black Caps squad for the remainder of the one day series against India, in place of the injured Adam Milne who could be out for up to six weeks with an abdominal strain.
Bennett played the last of his fifteen one day internationals almost three years ago and has been plagued by back problems.
He had surgery in late 2012 and then had to spend three months on his back recovering.
Bennett says he narrowly avoided suffering a broken back and also had abnormal bone growths affecting his spinal chord.
He has since remodelled his bowling action and says he's now able to bowl for longer periods and doesn't believe its its reduced his pace.
The second one day against India is tomorrow in Hamilton.
