Cricket: Cairns hobbles out of contention

By RICHARD BOOCK

Not for the first time this season, New Zealand's preparations for an international have been confounded by more fitness issues, with star all-rounder Chris Cairns out of tonight's one-dayer with housemaid's knee, and Nathan Astle out of hospital after suffering from light-headedness.

Astle was taken to Wellington Hospital for tests after apparently feeling dizzy yesterday morning, but was later given the all-clear. He is expected to be available for the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Wellington tonight unless further complications arise.

But the situation is not so clear for Cairns whose comeback after an eight-week layoff was cut short on Tuesday night when he suffered from bursitis in his right knee, the same joint in which he is already battling a painful patella tendon condition.

Convener of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said yesterday that Cairns would be stood down today, but would be considered for Sunday's third ODI in Auckland, with a decision likely to be made after a further assessment following tonight's match.

However, there is a growing feeling that the world-class all-rounder, who was on and off the field at Taupo and managed to bowl only three overs, would be better off having his much-avoided operation - even if it means missing this season's home programme, in order to be ready for next summer's challenges against England and Australia.

New Zealand are not quite the same side without Cairns, but neither are they the same side with a half-lame Cairns.

For the player's sake, the team's sake and New Zealand Cricket's sake, it could be time to bite the bullet and look at the long-term advantages of having the operation sooner.

With Cairns out of tonight's match and Astle under an illness cloud, Otago off-spinner Paul Wiseman and Central Districts' captain Jacob Oram have been called into the squad as cover.

Wiseman might have been a predictable enough selection, particularly as the WestpacTrust Stadium pitch is unpredictable, but how Oram made the squad remains something of a mystery, unless he struck a couple of pleasant cover-drives in front of Hadlee during the A team's tour of England.

Oram, who averages a respectable but modest 28 in the Shell Cup, has only managed 82 runs in three innings this summer, while averaging 16 in the Shell Trophy.

Although he also bowls, he has not exactly set the world on fire this season, taking one wicket at 70 in the Shell Cup, and three in the first-class competition.

Quite how a spin bowler and a late-order batsman can replace an opening bowler and an opening batsman is not clear, but it would be no surprise if neither played, and Brooke Walker - Tuesday night's 12th man - was included.

Hadlee said no decision would be made on the final line-up until just before the match. "As for Chris, we'll assess the situation after the game to see whether he'll be right for the final ODI at Eden Park. Although it's the same leg involved, the injury's not the same as the one which forced him out of last year's tour of South Africa."

New Zealand have not lost a one-day series at home to Zimbabwe, but will need to win tonight's match to keep that record intact.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Mathew Sinclair, Roger Twose, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Brooke Walker, Chris Martin, James Franklin, Paul Wiseman, Jacob Oram.

Zimbabwe (from): Heath Streak (capt), Guy Whittall, Gavin Rennie, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Stuart Carlisle, Trevor Madondo, Heath Streak, Doug Marillier, Angus Mackay, Travis Friend, Mluleki Nkala, Brian Murphy, Bryan Strang, Dirk Viljoen, Henry Olonga.