Cricket: O'Connor return lifts bowling attack

By RICHARD BOOCK

Shayne O'Connor's imminent return to international cricket will ensure there is at least some competition among the bowlers during the upcoming test series in Pakistan.

While New Zealand's batting order is traditionally afforded a type of selector's immunity while abroad, the bowling attack is far from a closed shop and will again be open for business when the tour begins on September 17.

Left-arm paceman O'Connor was the senior bowler on last season's injury-plagued African safari, but eventually succumbed to a leg injury in the New Year and missed the home series against Pakistan.

In his absence, the skeleton staff of Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey and James Franklin coped reasonably well, leaving the selectors a wealth of options as they ponder their test squad for the coming tour.

The 27-year-old O'Connor is not expected to be involved in discussions when Sir Richard Hadlee finalises his one-day squad next week, but he is favoured to regain his position in the test party to be announced at the same time.

The Otago swing bowler has played 18 tests, taking 53 wickets at 31.26, including a career-best five for 51 in the third test against Australia two summers ago.

With Dion Nash likely to be seen as more of a one-day prospect, the selection panel may be tempted to include both O'Connor and fellow left-armer Franklin, along with Martin, Tuffey and someone such as Chris Drum or Shane Bond.

A late replacement for Scott Styris in the New Zealand A team, Bond justified his inclusion with a match-winning spell of seven for 45 during the semifinal against Railways, and has so far taken nine tournament wickets at 14.22.

The other main question surrounding the test squad is whether former opener Matt Horne has done enough to force a recall and secure a berth as a back-up option for the top order. He is returning to Auckland for the coming summer after five seasons at Otago.

Horne, whose CV includes four test centuries, made himself unavailable for the home series against Pakistan after making 0 and 1 in the Boxing Day test against Zimbabwe.

His position was more than adequately filled by the resurgent Matthew Bell, who teamed up with Mark Richardson to score a record-breaking sequence of 50-plus partnerships and post a maiden test century.

However, Horne's worthy 111 for the New Zealand A side during the first round of the Bachi Babu tournament has almost certainly resurrected interest in his potential, and particularly his ability to provide cover for New Zealand's fragile top order in Pakistan.

In terms of the one-day squad, it seems the selectors are almost certain to recall Chris Nevin at the expense of Adam Parore, despite the Wellington gloveman's ordinary run of batting form with New Zealand A.

Apart from one unsuccessful innings as an opener, Nevin has batted at No 8 in India, and has so far been to the crease four times for a return of 44 at an average of 11.

For all that, it appears Hadlee will prefer him for the three ODIs in Pakistan next month, partly because of Parore's mixed fortunes in Sri Lanka and partly because Nevin provides a much-needed option up the order.