Cricket: Canning reporting for duty

Tama Canning is the latest addition to the Black Caps. Picture / Brett Phibbs

It might be the age of sponsored leisurewear and supplied footwear but it's still an easy task to pick out Tama Canning these days.

The latest addition to the hospital ship HMS Black Caps, he's the one without the eyes of a shell-shocked, or the legs of the original rubber man; the guy without the bandaged limbs or the halting gait - who looks like he's never been near Gilbert Enoka's sofa.

It's as if he doesn't even know there's been a war, that the troops have been wiped out on two fronts, and that the call for reinforcements has been made in retirement homes and high schools alike.

In fact, Canning startled reporters at yesterday's lifeboat practice when he said he wished he'd been called into action before the apocalypse, when he could have tried to influence the outcome of the transtasman exchange from the outset.

"I was a little bit disappointed to miss out earlier in the series but it's great to eventually get the chance and hopefully I can make something of it," he told those assembled, as mouths gaped open.

"It would have been nice to have played when the series was still alive, but this is a big chance too and I'm excited about it."

Brought in as a batting all-rounder to replace Gunner NJ Astle (injured and discharged), Canning seems likely to be thrust straight into the front line tomorrow, and to the surprise of many, has not yet penned a letter to his next of kin, or visited the hospital chaplain.

On the contrary, the 27-year-old, who tasted action on three occasions in Pakistan last season, is treating tomorrow's likely demolition as a good opportunity to dive into the heat of battle and measure himself against the latest armour-plating.

"I don't feel lucky to have missed the previous games, I've been chomping at the bit to get into them," said Canning - this time to audible gasps.

"They're a good team but at the end of the day they're just people, and I don't think the lads have probably done themselves justice so far.

"They've got up on the stage and have looked a bit awe-struck. You've just got to get on with the job, and make sure you don't get overwhelmed by the situation."

Having trained within enemy territory while an age-group star in Western Australia, Canning has the advantage of familiarity with most of the touring players, have attended the academy alongside Brett Lee and Michael Clarke, and trained or played alongside several others.

The previous connection had relevance, he insisted, because it meant he was less likely to be intimidated by the Australians reputation, or their ultra-confident approach.

"I was at the Academy with couple of their players and there's a few West Australians in their team so I grew up playing cricket with a lot of them," he said.

"I think knowing them will help, definitely. At the end of the day they're only cricketers and there's no need to be in awe of them."

Canning was picked on the back of some handy domestic form and a chain of injury's in the New Zealand camp but has previously been close to a recall, particularly after being rushed to Brisbane in December to join the squad for the Chappell Hadlee decider.

Coach John Bracewell said yesterday that the loss of players such as Scott Styris and Jacob Oram, not to mention Chris Harris, made Canning's all-round status a precious commodity, and something he needed in the team for tomorrow.

"He's obviously been going pretty well," said Bracewell.

"He keeps picking up wickets on one of the flatter tracks in the country [Eden Park Outer Oval], and he contributes with runs - which is useful in any team. Tama's one of only three or four all-rounders that we have in the country, and he's a pretty talented one."