Cairns, Nash have the fire to turn up heat on favourites
By Phil Wilkins
From the Sydney Morning Herald, January 8, 2002

New Zealand's cricketers worked out in drenching humidity at the Gabba yesterday, but they are aware that the heat has just begun after stretching the world champion Australians' necks to the point of a near public hanging in the third Test in Perth last month.

Four days before the triangular VB Series limited-over tournament begins against Steve Waugh's Australians at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, the Black Caps play Australia A at the Gabba today.

All-rounder Chris Cairns and new-ball partner Dion Nash are men who don't mince their words. While anything but boastful, both were warily optimistic yesterday that New Zealand would give a formidable account of themselves in their bid for the triangular crown.

Heartened by his team's exploits in Perth when New Zealand had Australia 7-381 in their second innings - still 59 from victory - when stumps were drawn in a series which ended 0-0, Cairns said: "We know if we can get Australia into pressure situations, that's when people start to react differently.

"Australia are great front-runners. If you allow them to get on a roll, they'll totally dominate you. It's a matter of keeping them under pressure long enough so that nerves play a part. Hopefully, you can come out on top in those situations.

"It's just about going in and playing hard here. That's what it comes down to: playing hard and having the right attitude.

"But it's about playing smart. On the field, sledging is quite minimal and some of it is quite amusing. It's just good, competitive, hard cricket

"We only get here every four years so we have to make the most of it. Cricket is on a high in Australia. It'll be a great crowd in Melbourne.

"That's why you play the game: to put yourself in those situations. It's a little uncomfortable at times but, hey, that's what it's all about.

"History says it is very, very tough. We have the utmost respect for Australia. We know they're the No1 team in the world and hot favourites to win this competition.

"We're not bandying it about that we are going to thrash them. That's just silly. With this tri-series between Australia, South Africa and us, you have three very competitive nations, all Southern Hemisphere and just looking to go at each other. It'll make for some great cricket."

If, as Cairns suspects, Australia underestimated them in the Tests, they won't for the next month.

Australia's cricketers have always liked the acid that runs in Dion Nash's veins, but the paceman's fire and brimstone came back to burn him badly late last year.

The Auckland bowler missed the home series against Australia in 2000 due to a stress fracture of the back and then, having played in the first Test at the Gabba this summer, he was repatriated with a torn stomach muscle.

Adding to his woes, Nash overcame his injury, returned to cricket and was suspended for three games for abusing an opponent in a championship game against Otago.

"That was pretty steep," he said. "There was a bit of misbehaviour on the field. I had one game back in my comeback and missed Auckland's last three games before we returned here.

"It was a provincial game. I abused one of the opposition players and was cited. I missed a four-day game and two one-day games. That's the way it goes."

Despite being a favoured son of New Zealand's selectors for a decade, the 30-year-old Nash has only played in one Test match against the Australians and is busting his britches to justify their confidence in him, although he is painfully aware of his lack of hard match practice.

"I'm not a spring chicken any more and I'm bitterly disappointed that I did not take a more prominent role in the Test series," he said.

"I've missed a number of tours. I've been in and out of the team, and to have played only the one Test against Australia has been really disappointing.

"Somehow, I have to find a way of getting through and getting myself into shape to perform and have a go at these guys."

New Zealand have already lost Auckland all-rounder Kyle Mills with a strained side, and he has been replaced by the Wellington all-rounder James Franklin.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (c), Andre Adams, Shane Bond, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Dion Nash, Adam Parore, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Australia A: Greg Blewett, Jimmy Maher, Michael Hussey, Darren Lehmann (c), Simon Katich, Mark Higgs, Ryan Campbell, Shane Watson, Stuart MacGill, Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken.

Umpires: Bob Parry (Victoria), John Smeaton (Tasmania).

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