By RICHARD BOOCK
CHRISTCHURCH - New Zealand will be without their influential opening bowler Dion Nash when they attempt to achieve an unprecedented 5-0 clean sweep over the West Indies this evening.
One of the pivotal figures in New Zealand's high-flying performance over the past year or so, Nash has been battling an aggravated back condition since returning home early from the tour of India in November, and played a reduced role in Sunday's fourth one-day international.
His place in the 12-strong squad has been taken by Central Districts' seamer Andrew Penn, who was effectively on stand-by for Nash in the lead-up to the first test in Hamilton.
New Zealand coach David Trist has been at pains to emphasise that Nash's injury is not a new one, nor a genuine aggravation, but the result of an ongoing medical condition which needed careful management rather than any wonder cure.
"There's been a gradual decline in his condition recently," Trist said. "And the medical team believed there was no solid reason why he should play in the final match - given the situation of the series.
"The injury isn't regarded as serious; it's more to do with wear and tear - just as it is with Chris Cairns' back injury."
Nash, whose bowling sparked a match-winning initiative in the second test at Wellington, has been visibly struggling with his fitness since being rushed back into the squad in late December, and was below his best in the first four ODIs, giving up more than five runs an over.
However, Trist was satisfied his new-ball bowler had not returned to the fray too soon and was hopeful he would be fit again by the time the Australians arrived in just over four weeks.
"The turnaround time from the tour of India was quite short, so there wasn't a big window of opportunity," said Trist. "But in hindsight I'd suggest he [Nash] did the right thing by returning for the series."
Whether Penn plays will not be known until shortly before play starts this afternoon, but if he does get the nod, it will be the right-armer's fourth opportunity in the ODI arena.
The 26-year-old made his debut against Sri Lanka at Wellington in the 1996-97 summer, bowling just two overs for 14 runs, and had limited chances against Pakistan at Mohali in 1996-97, and against India at Bangalore.
The only genuine cause for debate on the selection panel is whether Penn should be preferred to Shayne O'Connor, who took three wickets in the first two ODIs but proved far too expensive, his 13 overs costing 101 runs at an economy rate of 7.76.
Otherwise, Trist said he was more than happy with his side's performance and would not entertain the thought of making changes to the batting order just because one or two players were having a lean trot.
Craig McMillan, for example, has scored just 20 runs from three ODIs at an average of 6.66, and on current form could attend a fancy dress party disguised as a batsman, while Roger Twose had also struggled for runs before re-discovering some form in Wellington."
"Fortunes change very quickly in ODIs," he said. "Three days ago people were pointing the finger at Stephen Fleming, but now he's scored two 50s in three games. The guys are there to do a job and I'm confident that, in due course, they'll do it."
Teams: New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (capt), Nathan Astle, Craig Spearman, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori. Scott Styris, Andrew Penn, Shayne O'Connor.
West Indies (from): Brian Lara (capt), Ridley Jacobs, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Sherwin Campbell, Ricardo Powell, Wavell Hinds, Nehemiah Perry, Pedro Collins, Franklyn Rose, Reon King, Merv Dillon, Dinanath Ramnarine, Adrian Griffith, Courtney Walsh.
Cricket: Nash out as Kiwis go for clean sweep
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