The taste of Test cricket
Throughout the comeback process, the 2001-2002 tour of Australia
had been a major motivation for Nash, who had never previously
played in a Test match there. In September, Nash informed
New Zealand cricket that his back was now ready to face the
next stage of his comeback: Test cricket. When the Test squad
was named in early October, Nash was selected, along with
three other bowlers — Chris Cairns, Shayne O’Connor
and Daniel Vettori — making their Test comebacks after
an extended period on the sidelines. New Zealand Cricket’s
CEO Martin Snedden commented, however, that not even Chris
Cairns and Dion Nash could take their Test places for granted
over the likes of Daryl Tuffey and Chris Martin. Instead,
the Black Caps’ pace bowling would use the four warm-up
matches to compete for places in the starting XI to play Australia
in the First Test.
Nash produced a promising performance in the Black Caps’
first warm-up, against a Queensland Second XI in Brisbane
in mid October. He took 2/36 off 15 overs in the first innings,
and captain Stephen Fleming described Nash as the pick of
the bowlers. Jeff Crowe had commented before the game that
Nash would hopefully be fit enough to play the following warm-up
at Manuka Oval two days later. Nash did not play in Canberra,
however; instead he shared twelfth-man duties and bowled in
the nets each day. It was at Manuka Oval when Nash first noticed
a slight abdominal strain. The niggle did not prevent him
from playing the next warm up in Brisbane, but he sat out
the following game. Nash "could have played at a pinch,"
said coach Dennis Aberhardt, but it was felt best to rest
him, given that the tour selectors felt Nash had already done
enough to justify his Test selection. Nash passed a fitness
Test on the eve of the First Test in Brisbane and was named
in the XI to play Australia.
 New
Zealand’s selectors took a gamble when selecting all
of Cairns, Nash, Vettori and O’Connor to play the First
Test. While those names gave the Black Caps, on paper, their
"strongest possible side", all four were returning
from major injuries and the skeptics questioned whether all
four could possibly come through the Test unscathed. They
were right to doubt, although it was Nash’s abdominal
strain, rather than his infamous back, which fulfilled the
pessimists’ prophesy. Nash aggravated his injury while
diving full-stretch in the outfield on day two. The next day,
he was ruled out the of remainder of the Test series with
a torn abdominal muscle and did not bowl in the second innings.
Once again, Nash was flying home; once again his Test comeback
had lasted just one Test.
Although he had been disappointed yet again and was batting
in obvious pain, Nash did not let his team down. His most
significant contribution to the Test — which was to be
his last — was his innings of 25 not out, which ensured
New Zealand avoided the follow-on. Captain Stephen Fleming
was obviously appreciative of what he termed a "courageous"
innings. "He was in a lot of pain, but to do that is
his nature," said Fleming. "I was rapt he got us
past the follow-on, because I felt it could be a good game
of cricket in the afternoon." In fact it was; the two
captains set up a run-chase which saw the Black Caps get within
ten runs of an improbable victory before the Test ended in
a draw. "It was nice to finish the Test match with something
positive and to give something to the team," Nash said
simply.
It seems that just one Test had been enough to remind Nash
of how much he loved playing Test cricket. Although disappointed,
he spoke positively, confident that he would soon return to
the Black Caps again. "It’s disappointing to leave
another tour, especially this one," Nash said on his
return to New Zealand. "It’s one I really wanted
to be on. I probably wanted it too much in the end."
Nash had the comfort of some good news as well, however. "It’s
a shame to go home, but the good thing to come from it is
that my back’s been great, it’s giving me no trouble
and I’m feeling stronger and stronger every time I bowl."
As far as his back was concerned, Nash was the most confident
he had been for a long time. "If I can go home and get
this muscle injury right, I can be confident that I can get
a few seasons out of me yet," he said.
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