Swansong
It seems that Nash was not fully fit when he arrived in Australia
in early January for the one-day tri-series. He took 3/20
in the Black Caps’ warm-up match against Australia A
in Brisbane before suffering a groin strain. Although he could
perhaps have returned earlier, a conservative approach was
taken and Nash sat out the first half of the VB Series. He
returned for a tour match in Bowral, where New Zealand humiliated
an Australian Country XI by 249 runs. Nash scored 72 of them
in aggressive style, even losing the ball in a stand of gum
trees at one point. More importantly, he made a promising
return to the bowling crease, taking 1/18 off 10 overs. When
coach Dennis Aberhardt spoke to the press that afternoon,
he made it clear that Nash had done enough to secure a place
in the side for the Black Caps’ Australia Day showdown
with the hosts in Adelaide.
 When
Nash did at last make his entrance in the VB Series, he bowled
well and improved each game, leading to one of the finest
spells of his one-day career. In Perth, Nash cut through the
formidable South African top order with a brilliant opening
spell of 3/20 off seven overs. Nash bowled with excellent
line and length and achieved movement both ways. It was a
text-book example of good pace bowling on the WACA wicket
and incontrovertible proof of how effective Dion Nash could
be. Nash’s form during the VB series was also evidence
of how his bowling improved when fitness allowed him to string
performances together, as he had shown most clearly during
1999. It seemed that Nash’s return would be a significant
boost to a New Zealand side that had already performed well
during the one-dayers in Australia and went on to qualify
for the finals.
 The
glory did not last long however. The Black Caps lost the match
in Perth and, in the course of the First Final on February
6, they lost Dion Nash. Ironically, it was a batting mishap
rather than yet another back injury that ultimately concluded
Dion Nash's cricket career. Nash stumbled while running hard
to avoid being run-out at the MCG and suffered an abdominal
strain which limited him to just one over when New Zealand
fielded. Nash tried to open the bowling, but succeeded only
in further aggravating his injury. He collected his cap, apologised
to Stephen Fleming, and left the field. Though he travelled
to Sydney with the Black Caps, he also missed the Second Final.
The Black Caps lost the finals series 0-2 to South Africa
and Nash appeared edgy and withdrawn during the series presentation
at the SCG. It was to be the last time he wore his Black Caps
shirt, emblazoned with ‘NASH 33’, on a cricket field.
Back in New Zealand two days later, Stephen Fleming told
the press that Nash’s abdominal strain was not as bad
as first thought and that he was expected to take some part
in the one-day series against England that week. Nash did
not play against England, however, and Auckland coach Tony
Sail was continually revising the date when Nash might be
fit enough to make an appearance with the Aces. He was also
ruled out of the Tests against England. Then, in late March,
it emerged in the media that the injury keeping Nash on the
sidelines was not an abdominal strain as first thought, but
a hip capsule injury. The injury, affecting the region where
the femur attaches to the hip and also a number of nerves,
was described as "quite serious" and Nash’s
rehabilitation was being taken very slowly. New Zealand Cricket’s
fitness advisor Warren Frost said that the recovery period
would be lengthy and it was therefore too early to discuss
a possible comeback date, but announced that Nash had been
ruled out of New Zealand’s tour of the West Indies.
Nash spoke openly about his hip for the first time in mid-April.
He stated that he was gradually recovering from the injury,
and would have tests to ascertain the extent and nature of
the injury. It was increasingly obvious, however, that Nash
was seriously considering his future, and increasingly probable
that he would announce his retirement. One key was the bitterness
which Nash now seemed to display. It was first evident in
an interview with Graeme Hill on Radio Sport, a retrospective
which — by its nature — suggested that Nash’s
career was at its end, and in which Nash spoke about cricket
in terms which seemed, perhaps, disillusioned. Next, he attacked
New Zealand Cricket over his domestic suspension, suggesting
in the print media that the suspension had been partially
responsible for his latest injury.
Then, on April 19, Nash gave an interview in which he explicitly
stated the questions that were going through his mind. "I
thought that at 30 I would have had a good career behind me,"
Nash said, sounding more bitter than he ever had about any
of his previous injuries, "but there has been so much
disruption, you often wonder whether it’s worth carrying
on." Nash’s greatest concern seems to have been
that he might put him through the gruelling rehabilitation
process only to break down again. "I can bowl now, but
I know things aren’t right and I have to know if it’s
going to be trouble in the future," he explained. In
the simplest terms, he was sick of it. "I’ve got
to the stage now that if I see another physio I will just
about blow up," Nash said. It was increasingly apparent
that Dion Nash, having spent half his career on the comeback
trail, had finally lost the motivation to try again.
Nash had other concerns as well. "There’s so much
cricket being played, but you only earn a decent buck if you’re
playing," he said. "That’s the catch-22 of
playing international cricket. You risk the chance of injury
by playing so much, but you’ve got to play to be paid."
For years, journalists had joked about what Dion Nash, who
once fronted an occupational health and safety advertising
campaign, must have cost in terms of medical insurance. More
relevant, perhaps, was the fact that Nash’s New Zealand
Cricket contract expired in May 2002, beyond which point,
presumably, he simply could not afford to spend his life pursuing
yet another comeback. Nash allowed another insight into his
state of mind when he remarked that he would be seeking other
paid employment during the year. Nash stated that he had not
made a decision on his career one way or the other, however,
and would not do so until he had fully recovered from his
hip injury. Rumours of his impending retirement, Nash said,
were premature.
Ten days later, Nash received the results of the MRI scan
on his hip. The scan revealed only swelling, and no bone chips
or other problems with the hip. In theory, it was the type
if injury from which Nash would recover in time. He was reserved
when he spoke about the results on the radio, however, reiterating
that he would not make a final decision until he had recovered
from the injury. Nash revealed afterwards, however, that the
moment he saw the test results had been a turning point. "It
was a surreal experience when I got the results of the scan
because I knew that was it — that I didn't want to play
any more," Nash said a few days later, but admitted that
retirement was something he had been seriously considering
for several months.
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