Dion Nash - Profile
By Lynn McConnell
From nzcricket.co.nz, 2001-2002 season

How different might New Zealand's Test and One-Day International record have been had Dion Nash not been the victim of a string of back problems throughout his career?

His competitiveness is acknowledged by all who have seen him in action, and in his case it is competitiveness that is backed by ability.

It may be that the back problems mean there is not quite the fire and brimstone of players less afflicted, but in the right conditions and right form, Nash is a formidable prospect. It is the same with his fielding and his batting.

A star performer for the New Zealand Youth team before his selection for New Zealand in 1992/93, Nash really made his mark on the 1994 tour of England. It wasn't a happy tour as New Zealand's bowling attack was seriously below strength. But Nash, seizing an opportunity, in the second Test at Lord's, almost produced an unlikely victory for New Zealand.

England was saved by bad light which left New Zealand unable to use its faster bowlers, with two England second innings wickets remaining. It had been set a target of 407 and was 254/8.

Nash's contribution in the match was 11-169. And with a first innings 56, he became the first person on the Lord's honours board to have taken 10 wickets and scored a half century in a match.

The performance was enough to see Nash offered a contract with Middlesex and it was during this phase of his career that Nash began to experience his most serious problems. It was during his second year at Middlesex, in 1996, that he broke down, missing the whole New Zealand international season in the following summer.

He returned during the ODI stage of New Zealand's 1997/98 tour of Australia, immediately making an impact against South Africa with a fiery bowling display, competitive fielding and a near match-winning innings as New Zealand chased a target 301. His shot from the penultimate ball of the match should have been signalled a six as it landed on an overlap on the ground's boundary rope, effectively a six when clearing the first strand. Unfortunately, it was called a four, and instead of one run to win off the last ball, New Zealand was left needing three and Nash was caught out attempting to hit a boundary.

Back in New Zealand he topped the bowling averages in the two-Test series against Zimbabwe taking seven wickets at a cost of 10.71.

His finest home season was clearly the 1999/00 summer when he played a leading role in New Zealand's Boxing Day Test victory over India at the Basin Reserve. He scored 89 not out in a superb eighth wicket partnership of 137 with Daniel Vettori - a record for New Zealand against all countries. The stand gave New Zealand a suitable cushion to call the tune during the second innings and set up a victory chance.

Later in the summer, when captain Stephen Fleming was forced out of the home series against South Africa, Nash was appointed captain and while the Test series won't go down in history for the riveting nature of its cricket, the one-day series was a different matter. One particular piece of Nash-esque batting will be long remembered.

Things were getting a little too close for comfort as New Zealand sought a paltry total of 212 to win the first ODI in Dunedin. But one shot from Nash delivered the victory to him and the home team.

Fast bowler Allan Donald breezed in from the western end of the ground which is notable for its elongated boundaries. As Donald fired one ball at Nash, the batsman met the challenge with a superb straight drive which saw the ball soar high back over the bowler's head and well over the long boundary for a six - a shot which summed up Nash's attitude to cricket with one shot.

Unfortunately he was to be on the receiving end in Napier when Lance Klusener hit a boundary off the last ball to claim a victory for South Africa.

Nash carried on to play a leading hand for New Zealand at the 1999 World Cup and while his bowling average was 106.66, his economy rate was 3.95. Then, in New Zealand's 2-1 Test triumph over England he topped the bowling averages with 17 wickets at 17.47. The most vital act was cleaning up Mike Atherton, Mark Ramprakash and Alec Stewart in space of 12 balls to rip heart and hopes out of England at the Oval. His effort followed Shayne O'Connor breaking a big English partnership when the side was 123/2, chasing 246.

And he followed that up with great support bowling for Chris Cairns in the 2-0 home triumph against the West Indies. By the time Australia arrived later in the summer, Nash was out of action again. He attempted to come back on New Zealand's tour of Zimbabwe in 2000 but admitted, after breaking down again, that he had come back too soon.

Another tough spell of attempting to recover to play again started in the home season of 2000/01 with Auckland, a season in which Nash played some superb innings for his side finishing with 452 runs.

He was selected for the Coca-Cola Cup tournament in Sri Lanka in August 2001 on a managed work load in an attempt to have him ready for a return trip to Australia in 2001/02.But in a cruel blow, he pulled stomach muscles during the first Test and was again invalided home. However, he is looking to be ready for consideration against Bangladesh and England.

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