Cricket: Handy innings boosts chances

By RICHARD BOOCK

New Zealand cricketer Matt Horne can look forward to rejoining the tour of Africa after playing his first innings in more than a month at the weekend.

The 29-year-old right-hander broke a bone in his hand during the first test against Zimbabwe in mid-September and had not picked up a bat until last week, raising fears over his availability for the South African tour.

However, the former Aucklander, who scored his fourth test century in his most recent innings in Zimbabwe, demonstrated some match fitness with a 66-minute innings in Dunedin club cricket on Saturday, scoring 39 and striking seven boundaries for his University-Grange side.

New Zealand Cricket's player coordinator, Gilbert Enoka, said Horne needed to play at the weekend to prove his availability for the test squad, due to be named on Wednesday.

"Matt's hand has taken longer to heal than we expected, but he's had it examined and there's no need for an operation - which is a relief for everyone.

"He wasn't able to resume his comeback programme when we hoped, and as a result his return has been delayed, but the signs have been pretty good, and we're optimistic about his chances."

Enoka said the news was generally positive on the fitness front, with Horne's opening partner, Mark Richardson, fully recovered from the gash sustained at the end of the second test.

Richardson and test team-mate Mathew Sinclair practised at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre last week, and are set to join Horne and at least one of three pace-bowling options currently being considered for the test section of the tour.

With Dion Nash unavailable, Geoff Allott fragile and Chris Cairns doubtful, the selectors may be forced to draft in two new pacemen for Africa, and the choice appears to be between Andrew Penn, Kerry Walmsley and Canterbury's Chris Martin.

All three have been training at the centre, and while Martin seems the least likely to be selected, it would be no surprise to see both Penn and Walmsley packing their bags.