Cricket: Skipper's finger stitched

By RICHARD BOOCK

PORT ELIZABETH - The New Zealand cricket team's freakish run of injuries continued in the lead-up to the second test, with captain Stephen Fleming suffering a gash to a finger on his left hand which needed to be stitched.

Fleming received the injury when he jammed the finger during fielding practice, and although still confident of taking a full part in the test, will be at least mildly inconvenienced by the setback.

On the other hand, paceman Andrew Penn flew out of South Africa bound for New Zealand yesterday, the eighth injury casualty of the tour, following Daniel Vettori, Dion Nash, Matthew Horne, Chris Cairns, Geoff Allott, Scott Styris and Paul Wiseman.

Penn, who aggravated a side strain in the match against Border, will not be replaced because the selectors hope they can get by with one back-up fast bowler for the last two tests.

Manager Jeff Crowe said that on arrival Penn would be checked by New Zealand Cricket's medical team, who would assess the damage and, he hoped, draw up a recovery programme which would allow Penn to return to the fray as soon as possible.