Nash bows out
From the New Zealand Herald, May 2, 2002
New Zealand allrounder Dion Nash has
announced his retirement from international cricket.
Nash was not clear about why he had chosen
to end his 10-year involvement with the Black Caps, but two
weeks ago he expressed concern about a hip injury, the latest
of a long line of injuries that have dogged his career.
"I've decided to retire," he told One
Midday News today.
"It's good actually. I'm pleased I've
come to a decision, it's taken a while but I feel like I've
covered all the bases and I feel happy with my decision."
The 30-year-old Aucklander said the hardest
thing about his decision was telling his New Zealand team-mates.
He indicated he had made his decision
last month.
"I spoke to them a few weeks ago and
it was hard. Trying to tell them that I wasn't going to be
there for the World Cup and that it was over.
"For me personally it's the right thing,
it's the right time in my life to be moving on."
Nash played just 32 tests since making
his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1992.
He took 93 wickets at an average of 28.48
and scored 729 runs at 23.51.
He also played 81 one-day internationals,
taking 64 wickets and scoring 624 runs.
His most memorable performance was taking
11 wickets for 169 in the drawn second test against England
at Lords in 1994.
However, it was the winning tour of England
five years later which he described as a career highlight.
"Specifically the (victorious) Oval test.
There was a long buildup and a lot involved.
"The team grew so much over that time
so to come through and win that series was one of the most
special times I can remember.
"New Zealand cricket is still benefiting
from it. We all grew as men on that tour and the senior players
are still leading the way."
Nash was not clear whether he would continue
to play at any domestic level.
However, he said the first test against
Australia in Brisbane and the first of the tri-series finals
against South Africa in Melbourne would be his last contributions
for the Black Caps.
Typically, both those games ended with
Nash leaving the field mid-match with an injury.
His latest injury was a mysterious hip
problem suffered in the Melbourne match. He was to undergo
a scan to determine the extent of the problem.
Two weeks ago he said he was frustrated
that specialists had been unable to provide a diagnosis.
"I can bowl now but I know things aren't
right and I have to know if it's going to be trouble in the
future," Nash said at the time.
"I've learned the hard way not to push
injuries but I've got to the stage now that if I see another
physio I will just about blow up.
"I thought that at 30 I would have had
a good career behind me. But there has been so much disruption,
you often wonder whether it's worth carrying on."
Nash had a controversial domestic season,
being banned for three games for abusing an umpire and an
opposing batsman while playing for Auckland against Otago
just before Christmas.
His fiance, former New Zealand netball
captain Bernice Mene, also recently announced her international
retirement. Nash said he wasn't influenced by it.
- NZPA
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