Disappointed Nash remains positive
From Stuff, November 13, 2001

New Zealand bowler Dion Nash was trying hard to look on the bright side after reflecting on another cricket tour that ended early for him yesterday.

After playing a key role in yesterday's exciting finish to the first test, Nash will return home from Brisbane today after aggravating an abdominal muscle tear which he took into the game.

It is the fourth time in his career that he has been forced out of a New Zealand tour prematurely, the others being in Zimbabwe last year, West Indies five years ago and England seven years ago. Nash had played just one test in the last two years, when he broke down in Zimbabwe 14 months ago.

He said it was at least a blessing that the injury which has dogged him for most of his career, to his back, was not the reason for his demise.

"It's disappointing to leave another tour, especially this one," Nash said.

"It's one I really wanted to be on. I probably wanted it too much in the end. It's a shame to go home, but the good thing to come from it is that my back's been great, it's giving me no trouble and I'm feeling stronger and stronger every time I bowl.

"If I can go home and get this muscle injury right, I can be confident that I can get a few more seasons out of me yet."

Nash hoped he could recover in time for the two home tests against Bangladesh next month. A worst-case scenario of eight weeks' recovery could still see him available for the one-day tri-series in Australia in January.

Nash, who turns 30 next week, hurt the injury when diving to save a run on the second day's play on Friday.

"It was not troubling me too much at all on the first day and I felt like I bowled reasonably well, even though I didn't pick up wickets," he said.

"Going into the next day I probably tried a little bit harder. I dived for one ball and that started it off. It was downhill for the rest of the test match."

Nash batted bravely for 83 minutes to reach an unbeaten 25 before the declaration yesterday. He was in obvious pain as he swung his bat in Jason Gillespie's final over before lunch, which saw the Black Caps reach their target.

"It was nice to finish the test match with something positive and to give something to the team," he said.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming described Nash's innings as "courageous".

"His stomach's not too good, he was in a lot of pain, but to do that is his nature," Fleming said.

"His innings enabled the innings to be set up. I was rapt that he got us past the follow-on, because I felt it could be a good game of cricket in the afternoon."

Nash's tour replacement, Canterbury pace bowler Shane Bond, was to arrive in Adelaide last night, where he will meet up with the team today.

[Articles]