Allott to miss first stanza of Indian tour (31 August 1999)

31 August 1999

Allott to miss first stanza of Indian tour

Geoff Longley

Geoff Allott out, Chris Cairns in for the forthcoming tour of India are the fast bowling outcomes for the New Zealand cricket selectors who name their 15 today.

Allott is sidelined by a small stress fracture to the lower back, but hopes to be fit for the five-match one-day series against India in November when the squad is re-selected.

X-ray comparisons in Christchurch yesterday, of those taken in London on the England tour and when Allott sustained the injury previously, disclosed a small uplifting of bone in the lower back.

"It's really disappointing, I haven't been to India before and was looking forward to it."

Allott said because the injury appears to be relatively minor he will return more quickly than last year when he was out for months. Allott is already undergoing basic fitness and rehabilitation work and is targeting a return to bowling by November.

"I just have to be vigilant with my action to make sure I don't slip back."

Allott remodelled his bowling action and had spectacular success at the World Cup where he was the record-equalling leading wicket-taker with 20 dismissals.

Meanwhile all-rounder Cairns should make the tour but may be subject to a fitness test. He received a more favourable diagnosis yesterday on the scan of the patella tendon on his left knee.

"It's not damaged as we may have thought and with rest, rehabilitation and reasonable management, I should be okay."

The inclusion of Cairns will be a relief for the selectors, Ross Dykes (convener), David Trist, and Rick Pickard but replacement pace bowlers need to be found with Allott and Simon Doull also out.

That could come down to a choice between medium-fast bowlers Chris Drum, on stand-by for the England tour, and Andrew Penn, who performed well when drafted in for the latter stage of the England tour. Both could go at the expense of Chris Harris, who while a valuable all-rounder, struggles to justify a specialist place in the test arena.

Strike bowler Carl Bulfin may be best kept in reserve developing in New Zealand in case of injury to Cairns or Dion Nash and not exposed to the unforgiving wickets on the sub-continent.

Another slow bowler will be needed to partner Daniel Vettori and although the back-up is thin, Paul Wiseman, who succeeded in Sri Lanka, deserves another go after playing against India this year.

The other key area is top-order batting and Dykes said the selectors want to strengthen that department especially given that captain Stephen Fleming would prefer to bat at No.4.

Several candidates will come under scrutiny including the Central Districts duo of Craig Spearman and Mathew Sinclair who both had rich run returns in the last first-class season in New Zealand. After not making the England tour, Bryan Young's time may be past.

Canterbury's Gary Stead deserves close consideration on his gritty showings against South Africa but may be regarded as more of a middle-order option where there is greater competition.

Possible 15: Stephen Fleming (c), Matthew Horne, Matthew Bell, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Andrew Penn, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor, Chris Drum, Craig Spearman.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)