Cricket: Paceman to try his luck playing in Otago

By RICHARD BOOCK

Former New Zealand fast bowler Kerry Walmsley will attempt to rekindle his international career with Otago this summer.

The 26-year Auckland paceman, who played two tests against Sri Lanka in the 1994-95 season, has decided to transfer south for more playing opportunities in a bid to regain his New Zealand place.

Restricted by injury for much of his first-class career, Walmsley will follow the path of three Auckland cricketers - Mark Richardson, Paul Wiseman and Matt Horne - all of whom ended up being picked for the current test squad.

A bowler who impressed with his pace, bounce and outswing, Walmsley took seven wickets in his two tests and, although playing only five first-class matches last season, was recently identified by selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee as the type of bowler required by New Zealand.

Hadlee, who has stressed the need for more rotation among the pace bowlers, believes the current injury woes will continue until there is a much larger pool of candidates.

"I'd like to see some big, intimidating and imposing fast-bowlers," he said after being appointed. "Walmsley didn't play a lot for Auckland last year, but as a panel, we don't have any grudges or hidden agendas."

Currently playing league cricket in England, Walmsley has appeared in 26 first-class matches, taking 80 wickets at 28.

Auckland Cricket's chief executive Lindsay Crocker said yesterday that they would have preferred to have retained Walmsley's services, but could understand his reasons for wanting to shift.

"If Kerry has international aspirations then he clearly needs to play.

"Unfortunately for him, because of the emerging talent around Auckland at the moment, he's slipped down the pecking order and cannot be guaranteed a place.

"From his point of view, he needs to be somewhere where he can press his claims, and we appreciate that. We wish him well."

Crocker believed Auckland were reasonably well-served in the pace-bowling department, with last season's squad including Kyle Mills, Richard Morgan, Tama Canning, Chris Drum and Andre Adams.

He said the great pity for Auckland in recent seasons was that Walmsley and fellow New Zealand paceman Drum seldom played together because of injuries.

Walmsley will be joined in his southward trek by Auckland team-mate and all-rounder Craig Pryor.