Fahey hopes to overcome chronic fatigue

Maria Fahey, who has been included among the New Zealand probables for the 2009 Women's World Cup, hopes she will overcome the chronic fatigue she was diagnosed with last year and make it to the tournament in Australia.

"I know I will be behind the other girls in terms of fitness and preparation, but I really want to give it a go," Fahey told the Press, a Christchurch-based daily. After New Zealand's tour of Australia in July 2007, Fahey contracted flu and was later diagnosed with chronic fatigue, which forced her to miss the tour to England, the home series against the same opposition and the Rose Bowl Series against Australia.

Watching from the sidelines was hard for Fahey, who was New Zealand's regular opener. "But I did go and watch a couple of the games at Lincoln and found it put quite a different perspective on things."

Fahey is cautious not to over-exert herself now that she has been named in the squad. "I'm just starting to get back into doing a little training, but it's only very light. But I really wanted to have a goal like the World Cup to aim for instead of just rolling over and giving in."