Stephen Fleming is a doubtful starter for the first Test of New Zealand's home series against Pakistan. The match, which starts at Hamilton on December 19, is still more than two weeks away, but Fleming says he is struggling to regain his fitness after tearing abdominal muscles during the TVS Cup one-day tournament in India.

According to a Reuters report, Fleming said: "I was hopeful it would improve with rest and I would not need an injection, but that hasn't been the case, which is a worry. The tear is very deep and I'm in a race against time not only for the Test, but just to get some cricket under my belt.

"Hopefully I can start light exercise at the end of the week and then we all might have a better idea of where I stand. I'd love to play in the first Test but if I'm not pain-free then I can't." The injury forced Fleming to miss New Zealand's last match of the TVS Cup, and the five-match ODI series in Pakistan.