Nash, Vettori set to return
From Stuff, June 8, 2001

Key bowlers Dion Nash and Daniel Vettori are creating some welcome headaches with their impending return to international cricket as the New Zealand selectors settle on their Sri Lanka tour squad.

Chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said the squad of 14 he will name next week for the one-day tri-series was probably the toughest to select of his one-year tenure so far.

But he wasn't complaining as he at last found a full complement of bowlers and a settled batting lineup to take on Sri Lanka and India starting on July 18.

"There are going to be some very tight calls," Hadlee told NZPA.

"We've created a base of international players which was always our goal. The ones who are there realise they now have to dig their toes in to stay."

Allrounder Nash and left-arm spinner Vettori look certain to return after suffering similar recurrences of back injuries last season.

Nash, who has played 73 one-day internationals, told selector Ross Dykes this week he was raring to go after being given the green light by New Zealand Cricket's medical panel.

He might not play all of New Zealand's six preliminary matches in Sri Lanka, with a rotation policy likely to be used to address the horrific injury toll of the past year.

"He's a very important member of the side. Mentally he's feeling very good and very strong ... the signs are all good for him," Hadlee said.

Nash hasn't played for New Zealand since the second one-day international against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on September 30.

Vettori played the entire five-match one-day series against Pakistan in February but was ruled out of the three-test series as a precaution.

NZC player co-ordinator Gilbert Enoka said Vettori, who has played 66 one-day internationals, was also on track to play a full part in the three-test series against Pakistan in September/October and Australia in November.

"The medical experts don't declare a person healed from that kind of injury for two years afterwards, so he's still on a managed programme," Enoka said.

"But Dan's increasing his volume and we'd expect he'd be available for the tests against Pakistan and Australia."

A scan on Vettori's back in March encouragingly showed no re-fracture.

Left-arm swing bowler Shayne O'Connor was another player to be declared available by the medical panel after recovering from a knee injury.

He suffered a similar patella tendon strain in January to that of star allrounder Chris Cairns and was ruled out of the entire Pakistan series.

Cairns and fellow allrounder Scott Styris, still recovering from the knee surgery he underwent in South Africa in November, are the only players ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour. Both are on track to return for the Pakistan series.

Hadlee said the bowling lineup for the tri-series would be difficult to settle on.

"We've got the luxury of 10 fit bowlers ... there will be two spinners and we will be looking for pace bowlers who can take wickets."

He has Nash, O'Connor, Daryl Tuffey, James Franklin, Chris Martin, Andre Adams and Kyle Mills to choose from among the pace ranks.

Vettori looks likely to be backed up by Northern Districts offspinner Grant Bradburn, with competition from Paul Wiseman and Brooke Walker.

"Grant's a very mature player, you know exactly what you are going to get from him," Hadlee said.

Hadlee was heartened to see Mathew Sinclair finally take his chance in the one-day arena in Sharjah in April with back-to-back centuries against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

He will partner opener Nathan Astle while Hadlee said allrounder Harris could be used higher in the batting order to give the innings early impetus.

Roger Twose, who has scored 2718 runs from 87 matches at an average of 38.82, is unavailable and appears headed for retirement.

The 14-strong squad to tour Sri Lanka will be named on Thursday.

[Articles]