Becoming a test regular Nash's goal
By Brent Edwards
From The Otago Daily Times, Friday, December 18, 1998

Dion Nash has a simple but so far unrealised goal for the forthcoming summer - to establish a regular place in the New Zealand test cricket team.

The test career of Nash, which seemed set to blossom after he took 11 wickets and scored a half-century on his debut at Lord's in 1994, has been blighted by injuries in recentseasons.

"Goals are something I like discussing but I've certainly set myself one to establish a place in the New Zealand side," he said yesterday.

"In the past, I've been in and out with form and injuries. It's been a bit unsettling and it's something I want to change."

Nash (27) has taken 51 wickets (average 27.11) and scored 278 runs (average 16.35) in his 16 tests, a modest return for a player of his all-round talents.

"I think I've got a lot left I can prove with ball and bat," he said. "Certainly, I feel I haven't shown all my talents at international level. My aim for the rest of my career is to get the best out of myself."

Nash, who will be playing his first test at Carisbrook - he played four seasons for Otago in the early-1990s before returning to Northern Districts - said his niggles had cleared up and he felt fully fit going into today's first test against India.

"I'm really looking forward to having a bowl and getting amongst it. The role I have is really what I can make of it."

New Zealand has lacked a player in the mould of Australian Paul Reiffel, who in past seasons has bowled mainly first change and scored runs consistently at No. 8.

It is a role which appeals to Nash, who worked hard on his batting during the time he was unable to bowl because of a back injury.

Nash's captaincy of Northern in the conference series during the past two seasons has contributed to his maturing as a cricketer.

"When you're younger, you just play and don't tend to think so much about where the game's heading. Certainly, with the captaincy, you're forced to think about the game a lot more."

On the eve of New Zealand's biggest home international season for some years, Nash is excited by the challenges posed by India and later South Africa.

"There are a lot of guys around the same age who have played a similar amount of cricket who are just starting to mature at the same time, hopefully.

"There's a real feeling among the senior players in the side that now's the time to start putting things together more consistently."

But it has not been all cricket since Nash arrived in Dunedin as he has taken the chance to visit some of the "old haunts" of his student days.

"I love Dunedin. I've caught up with some of my old mates; seen some of my old flats. I just hope I can have a good test here."

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