A courageous cricketer
By S. Dinakar
From The Hindu, August 2001

DION NASH is an all-rounder who can make a difference. A courageous cricketer who has made two stirring comebacks from stress fractures of the lower back.

In the New Zealand side, he is one of the most loved cricketers. He is known to keep the spirits in the dressing room high, is often the first to put his hand up during moments of crisis... in short he is a perfect team man.

The other day, Adam Parore, the experienced 'keeper in the Kiwi line-up said, "he is the sort of guy who gives the team confidence. He goads the others to do well, and nothing matters to him other than the team."

Nash was delighted to be playing a part in New Zealand's victories. "It's nice to be back with the team. This means so much to me."

Interestingly, Nash was a doubtful starter for the game against India because of an upset stomach. He had missed the contest at the Premadasa Stadium the previous day, a duel Russel Arnold and Suresh Perera snatched away from New Zealand.

Came the vital game against India and Nash was ready. He delivered in that typically spirited manner of his.

The Kiwis were tottering at 143 for seven when Nash was joined by Daniel Vettori, on a comeback trail too following an injury. Their 43-run stand for the eighth wicket in 44 balls gave New Zealand's final score a veneer of respectability.

Nash played some telling shots during his 57-ball 42, steering Harbhajan Singh, sweeping Sehwag and delicately glancing Zaheer, the ball travelling past the ropes on all the occasions.

And he was the last man out, flicking part-time off-spinner Virender Sehwag to Ganguly at mid-wicket, but by then he had made a typically handy contribution. And it was Nash who ended the contest in India's 40th over, castling No. 11. Ashish Nehra.

Following the injuries, Nash may have lost a bit of pace but he is still quite sharp, and has the ability to move the ball both ways. Coming in as first change, Nash maintains the pressure on the batsmen, and his return has added teeth to the Kiwi attack.

In the earlier game against India, Nash had made inroads into the line-up picking up three important wickets. The match marked the likable Kiwi's return to international cricket and getting into the stride so soon must have given his confidence an enormous boost.

However, recovering completely from a serious back problem is a gradual process, and as New Zealand coach David Trist revealed, the team management is assessing Nash's fitness on a day-to-day basis. It doesn't want him to rush things that could result in the recurrence of the injury.

Given the nature of his injury, the career of the 30-year-old Auckland born Nash is at the cross-roads. However, he has started his comeback on the right note and the signs are good, both for him and New Zealand.

As a senior in a side going through a period of transition, he has a definite role to play.

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