Cricket: Aussies say Cairns' absence willl hurt Black Caps

Former Australian internationals Greg Blewett and Damien Fleming say Chris Cairns' absence will likely harm the Black Caps' chances in the 2007 World Cup.

Blewett believes that New Zealand may regret Cairns' decision to retire from international cricket with the 2007 World Cup just over a year away. Blewett, who played 46 tests and 32 one-day internationals in the 1990s and is now playing state cricket for South Australia, expects the Black Caps to be competitive in the Caribbean but insists that Cairns' absence could tilt the scales against their prospects of winning the World Cup for the first time since the tournament's inception in 1975.

"Chris Cairns has been a great cricketer for New Zealand for a number of years," said Blewett. "But I am surprised that he decided to retire now. I expected him to finish his career after the World Cup. It would have been the perfect swansong for him.

"New Zealand are a strong one-day side so I think they will still do well and be competitive - but they could miss Cairns' experience as well as his batting and bowling."

Blewett's ex-Australian team-mate Fleming also expressed surprise at the timing of Cairns' retirement.

Fleming played 20 tests and 88 one-day internationals as a fast bowler for his country before taking up a coaching post at the Adelaide Academy. Fleming believes that Cairns was ideally suited to the role of supersub for the Black Caps in limited-overs internationals.

"Chris Cairns is one of the best cricketers that New Zealand has ever produced," Fleming said. "I didn't think he would retire until after the World Cup because he could have been the perfect supersub option for the Black Caps.

"Cairns can bat, bowl and is a good fielder, so I think New Zealand could miss him in the Caribbean next year."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY