Cricket: Nash the quintessential team man

By Richard Boock

HAMILTON - They consider him officer material these days, although it was not so long ago that New Zealand Cricket effectively consigned him to the knacker's yard.

In fact, the realisation that Dion Nash was almost lost to cricket two seasons ago through injury was the spur NZC required to rush in a specialist in bio-mechanics, which - as the name suggests - involves tinkering with a human being rather than a Holden Kingswood.

Nash, New Zealand's vice-captain in everything but name, possibly fancies himself more as a Porche anyway. If his hairstyle is any guide, probably a rag-top.

The 27-year-old allrounder has a strong creative side, an eye for aesthetics, and a competitive streak which is equally apparent whether he is playing test cricket or snakes-and-ladders.

He is, however, an essentially private man. The pride of Northern Districts plays a little guitar but tends to save his command performances for the cricket field.

It is his opportunity to role-play, his own little theatre, and the thrill he gets from success is evident for all to see.

The guy who figured hugely with both bat and ball during the Kiwis' win in the second test at Wellington is not averse to jumping into his team-mates' arms when things go right - as Craig McMillan discovered at the Basin Reserve this week - but is far more restrained off the park.

"Cricket's given me an opportunity to express myself, and you don't get too many chances like that in life," Nash said yesterday, after completing a solid workout in the nets.

"I'm really happy to be back and fit, and most importantly, in some sort of form."

The first player to take 10 wickets and score 50 in a test match at Lord's, Nash missed the 1996-97 season with a back complaint and was wondering whether he would play again before NZC became involved in his rehabilitation.

Frustrated with the injury, he could see no light at the end of the tunnel and his enthusiasm at times waned, but he never forgot the feeling he received from playing cricket for New Zealand.

"It seemed a long way back at one stage and I wondered whether it would happen, but I never forgot how good it felt to play for New Zealand," he said. "And the memory was great, but I was pretty keen to experience the real thing again.

Although Nash has played in 17 tests already, he has also missed a fair few, and tends to think in terms of what he has yet to achieve, rather than what he has achieved.

A maiden test century, another five-wicket bag (he has not taken one since Lord's in 1994) - these are the things that keep him striving for more.

He does not covet the captaincy, but would never turn down the challenge, and if Stephen Fleming were to be forced from the field for any reason, coach Steve Rixon has said Nash would take over the reins.

"It's not something you seek," Nash said of the captaincy. "Because at international level, just getting involved is enough. You can give to the team in different ways, no matter who you are.

"Team dynamics are fascinating stuff and I'm right into that side of it. It's too glib to just call it team spirit. If you can achieve a mutual sense of respect and friendship, the guys will play for each other," he said.

"That's what a team's all about."