Dancers' regime aids Nash's recall
By Geoff Longley
From The Press, December 31, 1997

An exercise regime favoured by dancers has helped Dion Nash recover from a debilitating back injury and gain a call-up to the New Zealand cricket team named last night for the one-day tri-series in Australia.

Nash, 26, returns to the international arena after almost two seasons absence, having been sidelined by a lower back injury which threatened his career.

The Northern Districts all-rounder is one of several changes to the team which goes back to Australia for the second part of the series against the host nation and South Africa.

Nash and Central Districts opening batsman Craig Spearman rejoin the 13-man team while Roger Twose and Geoff Allott are omitted from the side in Australia before Christmas. Gavin Larsen and Blair Pocock were not considered because of injury.

Nash was delighted by his recall after wondering if he would ever wear the silver fern again.

I was always determined to get back but there are times when you have some doubts. It's really exciting,'' said Nash, who is in Christchurch with the Northern team.

The injury, later diagnosed as a disc bulge, struck Nash when he was touring West Indies with the New Zealand team in April last year. It forced him out of an English county contract with Middlesex and halted an international career that had included 28 one-day matches and 14 tests.

Last season the medium-fast bowler hardly bowled at all and played as a batsman in some Shell Trophy games for Northern.

During the off-season he heard through his mother of a technique used by dancers to help strengthen the back and abdominal muscles.

"Apparently, a number of Australian cricketers have used it successfully so I gave it a try.''

Working with physiotherapist Graham Nuttridge and sports motivator Gilbert Enoka from New Zealand Cricket in Christchurch, Nash spent several months during the off-season gradually building up.

His bowling action has been refined slightly and Nash showed during the Conference Cricket series he was on target to full fitness performing well with bat and ball as the Northern team he captained won both the one and four-day titles.

"At times I still get a bit stiff but that's something I have to live with. I try to keep doing some of the exercises most days.'' Nash believes he will be back to bowling full pace. He wants to be regarded as a genuine all-rounder, having let his batting slip when he previously played for New Zealand.

Spearman has reclaimed a place, after last being on the tour of Zimbabwe, with two big scores in the early Shell Cup rounds, 76, and a Central Districts record 126 against Canterbury in Nelson this week. His inclusion provides more options at the top of the order.

"We know we have the experience and solidity of someone like Bryan Young and more explosive players like Spearman and Nathan Astle,'' said selection panel convener Ross Dykes.

Allott is not regarded as a specialist one-day bowler. He did not play in any of the one-day internationals last month, and his omission does not surprise. It will be greeted with relief in Canterbury which loses five players from its Shell Cup side, while Northern Districts is minus four.

Another left-arm pace bowler Shayne O'Connor holds his place with Dykes saying there was still a need to have bowlers with wicket-taking ability.

Team: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan (Canterbury), Daniel Vettori, Simon Doull, Bryan Young, Dion Nash (Northern Districts), Shayne O'Connor, Matt Horne (Otago), Adam Parore (Auckland), Craig Spearman (Central Districts).

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