Inclusion in test squad completes Nash's comeback
By Jonathan Millmow
From The Otago Daily Times, Monday, February 16, 1998

Timaru: Dion Nash's comeback is complete.

Twenty-two months after breaking down with a back injury in the West Indies, Nash has regained his place in the New Zealand test team for Thursday's first test against Zimbabwe at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.

Nash has proved his fitness with a series of consistent performances for the New Zealand one-day team since Christmas.

The Northern Districts all-rounder said yesterday that only now did he feel his comeback was complete.

"Test cricket is the big one and the one I've been holding out for. Hopefully, I make the final 11 now," Nash said.

"Test cricket allows you to get into a rhythm. In one-day games you are always slinging the ball in there trying to keep it tight," Nash said.

Nash has played 14 tests, but his last was against Pakistan at Lancaster Park in Christchurch in December 1995.

He has taken 44 test wickets at an average of 29.22, including a career best of six for 76 against England at Lord's in 1994.

Nash has no concerns about his fitness in the longer version of the game.

He was asked to bowl some long spells in the middle of the innings during the one-day triangular series in Australia after Christmas and managed the task comfortably.

He said the prospect of having to bowl 20 to 25 overs in a day and then play again the next morning did not worry him.

"In some ways the one-day games are harder because they are so intense and you are always travelling and practising all the time," Nash said.

"We've just played six one-dayers in 11 days so it doesn't come much tougher than that."

Nash has been satisfied with his all-round performances since returning to the New Zealand team.

He has fielded and batted above expectation although he is still not entirely happy with his bowling.

"I'm working on my outswinger. Simon Doull has been helping me because I've had a few problems with it lately.

"I've had my wrist on the wrong side of the ball and the seam has been coming out pointing towards leg slip," Nash said.

In hindsight, the enforced break might have been a blessing in disguise, he added.

Nash's inclusion, at the expense of Wellington captain Roger Twose, is the only change to the team which played the third test against Australia at Hobart in late November.

Chris Harris was 12th man in Hobart and may fill the role again unless the selectors opt for him and leave Nathan Astle out.

The other feature of the side is the return of test-hardened opener Bryan Young along-side Matt Horne, after Young was stood down during theone-day series.

Young scored nought for New Zealand A against Zimbabwe last week and only 13 yesterday for Northern Districts against Auckland, but his case was assisted by the hand injury to Auckland's Blair Pocock.

Convener of the New Zealand selection panel Ross Dykes said Pocock was not considered because of his lack of recent match play.

"He's been out of cricket for so long. He does need to play a game before we can legitimately consider him," Dykes said. "He'll play another game before the second test side is selected."

Shayne O'Connor will again spearhead the bowling attack despite some disappointing performances in the one-day internationals against Australia.

"We thought of Heath [Davis], but I think he has had one innings for New Zealand A against Zimbabwe, but really we would like to see him string a couple of performances together," Dykes said.

"When you look back at Shayne O'Connor's last two test matches [Perth and Hobart] they were quite successful. We're not judging Shayne O'Connor on the one-day series."

Dykes is confident left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori will take his place in the side.

Vettori missed the one-day game against Australia in Auckland on Saturday because of a neck injury, and was replaced by Mark Priest.

"According to the physio [Mark Harrison] he'll be all right in two days, but obviously that will be monitored very closely," Dykes said.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matt Horne, Bryan Young, Adam Parore, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Nathan Astle, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Simon Doull, Shayne O'Connor. - NZPA

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