KEY POINTS:
The radar gun does not lie and James Franklin is the first to admit he is still getting up to speed since returning to test cricket.
The allrounder's selection for the two-match series against the West Indies was no surprise given his history with the national side.
But even allowing for his partnership breaking ability with the ball at McLean Park during the second test, the 28-year-old's recall since a lengthy rehabilitation from knee surgery has been largely unspectacular.
His left arm variation has often been considered an asset though the medium fast bowler has struggled to rediscover his pace since being designated as one of new ball bowlers for the first test in Dunedin.
Ultimately Franklin never carried out that responsibility in the West Indies first innings - a nasty blow to the ribs while facing Fidel Edwards saw Kyle Mills take his place as the bruising subsided and he eventually took none for 61 from 15 unthreatening overs at University Oval.
Franklin opened the bowling in the West Indies first innings in Napier on Friday but again struggled to hit the deck hard when taking one for 57 from 16.
Only Mills of the frontline seam bowlers delivered fewer overs and at one stage medium pace change bowler Jesse Ryder was clocking similar speeds in the 128kph bracket.
Yet Franklin's wicket was a key one. Australian-born batsman Brendan Nash was lured into a loose drive and was caught at mid-off for 74, ending a 163-run stand for the fifth wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Fortunately for New Zealand, Nash succumbed to Franklin a second time yesterday after he added 124 - again for the fifth wicket - with unbeaten century maker Chris Gayle.
Franklin was not required to bowl until the 67th over of the West Indian second innings after Iain O'Brien was thrown the new ball. Then spin took precedence as Daniel Vettori and Jeetan Patel bowled long spells.
When finally asked to mark out his run, Franklin's first four overs cost 17 but after tea with the new ball he finally made another meaningful contribution.
He softened up Nash with a short ball that deflected off his chest, two deliveries later a similar line and length had the test rookie sparring the ball off a glove to Jamie How in the slips when on 65.
In a carbon copy of the first innings the combative Nash's departure triggered a mini collapse with Denesh Ramdin and Jerome Taylor also falling before Gayle (146) and Fidel Edwards (1) ensured the West Indies had a 214 run lead heading into today's final three sessions.
Ramdin played a injudicious cut to Daniel Flynn at point - it was hardly Franklin's best ball of the day but it still had the desired result.
After taking two for 40 from 12 overs, Franklin acknowledged he was still underdone in terms of his bowling.
"I've probably been a little bit down on pace, I'm pretty concerned about that," he said.
"But that last spell, my speeds got up a little bit.
"I've just got to continue on, hopefully my rhythm and my pace will slowly pick up.' '
The short pitched balls that set up and then dislodged Nash were in the 135kph range, a marked improvement.
"It was talked about at tea that the game was finely balanced and we had to get a couple of wickets and break that partnership with Nash and Gayle," Franklin said.
"I took it upon myself to run in hard and try and get something out of the wicket. It's pretty placid if you don't whack it in."
Franklin can be excused for not quite recapturing the form that made him an integral member of the test and limited overs sides before he needed surgery on the patella tendon of his right knee following last year's World Cup in the Caribbean.
He eased back into competitive cricket by playing Twenty20 and one-day games for Australian Capital Territory and representing New Zealand in the Emerging Players tour of Queensland in October.
Franklin then made his first class comeback for Wellington last month against Canterbury in the State Championship.
"I just need more bowling," he explained, adding he had no issues with his reconstructed knee.
"I've got full trust in my body. I've had pretty much 18 months with no match hardened bowling. I'm five first class games into this season - the more cricket I play the better bowler I'll become."
- NZPA
