Cricket: Likely recall for Astle, Allott against S Africa

By Richard Boock

There might be a hint of shuffling a certain ship's deckchairs in all this, but the New Zealand cricket selectors are poised to make a couple of changes to their side for the first one-dayer against South Africa.

New Zealand begin the six-match Bank of New Zealand one-day series in Dunedin on February 14 when they square off against a South African side who have recently demolished the West Indies in both the short and long versions of the game.

The 12-strong Kiwi squad to be named by the selectors tomorrow morning is likely to feature the return from injury of batsman Nathan Astle and Canterbury team-mate Geoff Allott, neither of whom played in New Zealand's win over India at Christchurch late last month.

Both are involved in today's Shell Cup final against Wellington, and while Astle commands a recall on the basis of a fine international record, Allott will muscle his way back in through some strong form in domestic cricket.

The pair will probably return at the expense of Bryan Young and Chris Drum respectively, both of whom shared mixed fortunes in Auckland's Shell Cup campaign this summer.

Astle is set to slot back in as an opener, allowing Roger Twose to retain his place lower down, while Allott is in a head-to-head battle with Drum, but has form on his side - not to mention a further opportunity to impress in today's showpiece.

With Twose likely to survive this round of selectorial cuts - at least until Stephen Fleming is available again - and with offspinner Paul Wiseman performing reasonably well in a weak Otago side, the selectors are unlikely to opt for further change.

Most of their batsmen are showing solid form at least, while the bowling attack contains a degree of depth and balance.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council has appointed Australian umpire Daryl Harper to stand with New Zealander Steve Dunne in the first test at Auckland, starting on February 27.

The ICC has yet to nominate a National Grid umpire for the second and third tests. The New Zealand umpires appointed for those matches are David Quested and Doug Cowie respectively.

Dunne, who has recently returned from Madras after standing in the historic first test between India and Pakistan, will officiate with Cowie in the first one-day international, Evan Watkin and Chris King will stand in the second, Cowie and Brent Bowden in the third, Quested and Bowden in the fourth, Watkin and King in the fifth, and Dunne and Watkin in the sixth.

New Zealand (likely): Dion Nash (captain), Nathan Astle, Matt Horne, Craig McMillan, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Simon Doull, Geoff Allott, Paul Wiseman.

Pictured: Nathan Astle.