Injury prompts Nash to concentrate on batting
From Stuff, November 17, 2000

Injured New Zealand allrounder Dion Nash aims to earn selection for the national one-day cricket team as a specialist batsman this summer.

Nash, 28, is unable to bowl because of a bilateral stress fracture in his lower back, but it does not affect him at the batting crease or in the field.

He was invalided home from New Zealand's long tour of Africa after the series in Zimbabwe.

He will bat at No 5 for Auckland in the Shell Cup one-day and Shell Trophy first-class competitions and hopes to score enough runs to be considered as a middle order batsman in the limited overs game at international level.

Last season Nash was dismissed just once while scoring 200 Shell Cup runs.

His one-day batting average for New Zealand over 46 games is 15.42, but he has been handicapped by coming to the crease in the dying overs when quick runs are the priority.

At first-class level for Northern Districts and Auckland he has scored 2872 runs at an average of 25.19, including three centuries and 13 50s.

"I think I'm good enough to play as a batsman," Nash said.

"I want to throw myself back in the mix and if I score enough runs then I guess it is to my advantage that the selectors know what they are getting."

Nash believes targeting the one-day side is a more realistic goal than the test line-up.

"I think test matches (as a batsman) are probably two seasons away."

Nash's most realistic avenue into the one-day side would be at the expense of hard-hitting No 6 batsman Craig McMillan. However, that is a tall order because McMillan is capable of destroying an attack.

"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself but it is all about putting pressure on. That is healthy for everyone," Nash said.

Nash said the decision to concentrate on batting was one he made himself, but his move was backed by former test captain Martin Crowe and Auckland coach Tony Sail.

"Crowey said some nice positive things about my technique. I've received a lot of support and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Sail said Nash's batting form last summer should be enough to silence any doubters.

"I might even use him at No 4," Sail said.

"Dion's competitiveness is well known and this is just another target he has set himself.

"He is one of those special players, so I've got no doubts he can make a good fist of it. He certainly hasn't got any major weaknesses or areas you would concentrate on attacking him."

Nash credits his steady progress as a batsman over the last two to three seasons to some tireless work on his technique in 1996 with former test offspinner John Bracewell.

In 31 tests Nash has scored 704 runs at 22.70 but in the second half of his career he has hit three half-centuries and averaged 29.

His highest score is 89 not out against India in Wellington in 1998.

Nash said his shift in focus wasn't a sign he had given up trying to bowl quick.

"I've been told `nothing' (bowling) for the next two months, but I don't want to be idle," he said.

"The back is a worry and the disappointing thing is I worked really hard over the winter and thought I had it right for Zimbabwe."

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