Cricket: Gloves come off over Parore thigh

By RICHARD BOOCK

Adam Parore's dodgy thigh is concentrating the minds of both the New Zealand and Auckland cricket selectors.

One of the New Zealand team's most enduring players, Parore has been sidelined by the injury for a fortnight, leaving him in doubt for the Shell Cup finals against Canterbury starting Friday, not to mention the fast-approaching one-day series against Australia.

Auckland, at least, are fairly well used to the drill by now as Parore has played just two first-class matches for his province since the 1992-93 summer, but the outside chance of him missing the start of the ODI series against Australia has drawn a quick reaction from the national selection panel.

The selectors have called Otago's Martyn Croy and Wellington's Chris Nevin into a training camp at Lincoln's High Performance Centre this weekend as they seek to groom possible standby players, as well as maintaining the form of those New Zealand players not involved in the Shell Cup finals.

Aside from the two wicketkeepers, the selectors have also recognised the continual injury cloud hanging over the heads of Dion Nash and Chris Cairns, and have included Robert Kennedy, Andrew Penn and Daryl Tuffey in the 10-strong camp as cover.

Ironically, the trio began the season as the three most expensive bowlers in Shell Cup history.

The biggest concerns, however, remain with the gloveman.

Parore has played in every test and ODI since reclaiming the wicketkeeping position from Lee Germon in 1996, and his ability with the bat has pushed him well clear of any potential challenges.

He was the most successful wicketkeeper in the world last year with 39 test dismissals (five more than South Africa's Mark Boucher), and played a not insignificant hand in Daniel Vettori's rapid progression over the past 12 months.

Nevin, censured by the NZC code of conduct commissioner last week for his part in a controversial umpiring incident in Wellington, bats in the Firebirds' top-order, while Croy - who toured England as Parore's understudy last year - came back from his own injury to score 224 Shell Cup runs for Otago at an average of 37.33.

Convener of selectors Ross Dykes stressed yesterday that the training camp was in no way a trial, but a type of "refresher course" for leading players not involved in the Shell Cup finals.

He was loathe to speculate on the chances of Parore missing any games - "we want to have something in reserve should anything to happen to Adam and there's nothing more to it than that" - and said the call-up of Penn, Kennedy and Tuffey was a necessary contingency.

"Again, this is part of our policy to have players in reserve who are familiar with our approach to the one-day game, just in case the need should arise."

Meanwhile, Nash will play for Auckland in the Shell Cup final solely as a batsman.

Nash's back injury was checked yesterday by New Zealand Cricket's medical panel and it was decided that he still could not bowl.

The panel, headed by team psychologist Gilbert Enoka, will assess Nash again after the best-of-three finals series.

Nash's nerve as a batsman piloted Auckland to a hair-raising win over Northern Districts in the semifinal.

The finals begin at Eden Park at noon on Friday, with the second match to be played at Jade Stadium on Sunday and the third - if required - at the same venue on Tuesday.

Canterbury have named an unchanged 12-strong squad for the first match.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (captain), Brad Doody, Nathan Astle, Stephen Fleming, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Gareth Hopkins, Carl Anderson, Warren Wisneski, Ryan Burson, Chris Martin.