Nash steers wide of bowling crease
From The Press, February 2, 2000

Black Caps all-rounder Dion Nash will bat but not bowl for the Auckland Aces in the best-of-three Shell Cup cricket final series against Canterbury.

New Zealand Cricket's medical panel assessed Nash's fitness again yesterday and decided he should give bowling a wide berth.

"We feel that Dion is still not quite ready to bowl and have advised him to play as a batter only for the Shell Cup matches," Black Caps player co-ordinator Gilbert Enoka said.

"We want Dion in the best of condition for the one-day series against Australia." The National Bank series starts in Wellington on February 16.

A final decision on Auckland and New Zealand wicketkeeper Adam Parore's fitness for the Shell Cup series will be made today.

"It's looking reasonable for him at present as his thigh injury is responding well," Enoka said. "He needs a little more time and, with any luck, Adam will be able to play in the first of the finals at Eden Park on Friday."

Canterbury has no injury concerns, coach Garry MacDonald confirmed yesterday.

"All players are fit and raring to play," he said after Canterbury trained in murky conditions at Jade Stadium.

He said the squad was likely to train indoors at Lincoln University today because of a looming southerly storm.

MacDonald said news that Nash would not bowl in the finals series would be a real blow to Auckland.

"Nash would have been a real asset to an opening attack which has struggled throughout the season."

He felt Nash's on-field aggressiveness would help fire the Aces, but there was little doubt his absence from the bowling crease would be a concern.

[Articles]