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Nash eager to prove his fitness
Reuters, from NZOOM
Dion's back and raring to go. New Zealand all-rounder Dion
Nash said the one-day series in Sri Lanka is his opportunity
to show he is fully recovered from the crippling back injuries
that have stalled his promising career over the last five
years.
"I appreciate that I am getting the opportunity to show
some form," Nash said on Monday ahead of the triangular
series with Sri Lanka and India starting next week.
"I am lucky to be getting that with the amount of time
I've had out of the game, but if things aren't right in Sri
Lanka I will have to seriously think about opting out of the
tour to Pakistan in September and Australia in November. I
may have to seriously think about my future in the game."
Nash has been out of action for almost a year after breaking
down with a recurrence of a stress fracture in the back in
Zimbabwe last September. That was after missing the home series
against Australia after being a pivotal part of New Zealand's
demolition of the West Indies in 1999-2000.
"In hindsight I came back too soon and only managed
a one-dayer and a test in Zimbabwe," Nash, 30 in November,
said.
"It has been very frustrating and I have missed too
much cricket at a time when I should be at my peak."
ACID TEST
The Aucklander, who played the last domestic season as a
batsman only, said he was bowling at about 80 percent capacity.
"I feel good, but I've only been able to bowl indoors
over the winter," he said. "The acid test is out
in the middle in Sri Lanka and while it's never easy there
for a quickie, I'll know if I've come through all right."
Nash has played 30 tests for 92 wickets at an average of
27.20 and 642 runs at an average of 21.40 and 75 one-day internationals
for 54 wickets and 509 runs.
The New Zealander's name is on the honours' board at Lord's
for taking 11 wickets and scoring 56 in the second test against
England on his first tour in 1994.
He was first struck by back trouble playing for Middlesex
in 1995 -- disc trouble which had him out of action for 18
months.
Since his return he has missed series against Australia (home
and away), South Africa (away in 2000-2001), Zimbabwe (home)
and Pakistan (home).
His breakdown last year coincided with an alarming raft of
top New Zealand players out of action through injury, among
them Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori and Shayne O'Connor, who
with Nash, represented the front-line bowling attack for the
team.
Vettori returned after similar problems to Nash for the one-dayers
last New Zealand summer, but was not considered strong enough
to play a test match.
Cairns (knee) missed the South Africa and Pakistan series
and will not be travelling to Sri Lanka but, along with O'Connor
(not considered for Sri Lanka), will probably be ready for
Pakistan in September.
"Considering we had all us guys out injured, the boys
that replaced us did very well," Nash said.
"Daryl Tuffey came of age and Chris Martin came from
nowhere to be a great find really. With all of us out, it
showed that the depth of New Zealand bowling is quite deep
and should do us well in the future."
Nash said that recovering from serious injury brings "all
sorts of emotions through".
"It's frustrating as hell and it tests you as much as
when you are on the field."
The New Zealand team go into a training camp this week before
leaving for Colombo on Friday. They play their first game
on July 18 against Sri Lanka
Source: Reuters
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