Simon Doull has ruled himself out of contention should a replacement bowler be needed to be sent to South Africa to join the New Zealand tour.

Doull, a few weeks ago, had hopes of being considered but told CricInfo today that the spate of injuries in South Africa had made him realise that if he was going to get back into top cricket he needed to be able to do so with assurances he wouldn't break down.

The Northern Districts swing merchant was asked if he would go to Christchurch to prepare with other short-listed bowlers, Andrew Penn, Kerry Walmsley and Chris Martin, but he declined.

"I thought about it, and I did want to go to South Africa.

"But seeing other guys going over and getting injured made me think very hard.

"It is hard to go from playing on a concrete wicket in club cricket, to hard pitches for first-class play and then into Test matches.

"I want to be ready and rearing to go if I am to be available. Northern Districts has three first-class matches before Christmas and they will tell the story," he said.

Doull, who is sitting on 97 Test wickets, said he is feeling fine and everything seemed right but it was about cricket fitness, not general fitness.

The most sensible thing was to make sure he could last the distance as he feels he has another 14 or 15 Tests left in him.

"At the moment I am working hard to get everything sorted out in my business because next week we are away playing Super Max," he said.

© CricInfo