By Monique Devereux

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, Mar 18 (Reuters) New Zealand fast bowler Mark Gillespie almost booked a flight home after a viral infection left him an early bystander at the World Cup.

Gillespie's bowling arm became numb during his journey to the West Indies earlier this month following a rare reaction to a throat virus.

''I was contemplating maybe going home, but it's improved with steroids so I'm really positive about things,'' Gillespie told reporters during his team's training session yesterday.

He explained how the problem first emerged. ''During our stop over in LA airport, I was having a shower just to freshen up and trying to shampoo my hair and my arm just wouldn't respond really.

''I was pretty disappointed to come all this way just when I've been incumbent in the side and going alright, then to have a shower at LA airport and find my arm's not working, not having any previous symptoms or anything ... yeah it was bitterly disappointing,'' added Gillespie, who got clearance to treat the arm with steroid injections.

The 27-year-old, who made his one-day debut in December 2006, has had to sit out two warm up games in the Caribbean as well as New Zealand's six-wicket win over England in the Group C clash on Friday.

Having resumed light training, he is now hopeful of playing some part in the tournament.

''It's nearing 100 percent. It's still a little bit dodgy but I'm bowling again and today I'll be throwing, so that's the big thing, to see how that goes,'' said Gillespie.

''It's so important in a one-day game. You can't hide in the field if you can't throw, so that'll be the telling thing.

''Luckily we've got two games against lesser opponents, so it's not like it's the World Cup final in two days time.'' New Zealand next face Kenya on Tuesday before playing Canada in their final group match two days later.

REUTERS SAM HT1000