Cricket: Tyro O'Connor has big weight on shoulders

POTCHEFSTROOM - On the surface it seems as futile as watching Wheel of Fortune in Afrikaans - a young cricketer with just 14 tests under his belt shouldering New Zealand's main hopes against the might of South Africa.

In the space of just six months, Shayne O'Connor has found his test status transformed from optional to utterly unexpendable, mostly because of the series of injuries that have ruled out front-liners Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Geoff Allott, Daniel Vettori and Simon Doull.

The 26-year-old O'Connor was left out of the equation as recently as last season against the West Indies, and even in the lead-up to this tour was expected to play second fiddle to some of his more illustrious team-mates.

However, as coach David Trist said the other day, these are demanding times.

If New Zealand head into the first test at Bloemfontein with the attack they have talked up since Paarl, O'Connor will not only walk on to the field as the team's most experienced bowler, but also the only one with any previous test experience.

This could change slightly if the selectors opt to include Daryl Tuffey instead of Scott Styris or Chris Martin, neither of whom have been near the test line-up before.

And legspinner Brooke Walker, set to play after an injury to Paul Wiseman, will also be making his test debut.

O'Connor warmed up for the first test starting on Friday with a compelling spell of swing bowling in the first innings against North West, and managed to claim another wicket at the start of the second innings yesterday as New Zealand took a stranglehold on the game.

He was acutely aware of his additional responsibilities in the test series, but careful about expecting too much of himself.

"I won't be putting pressure on myself to take all the wickets, or anything like that," he said. "But I can set a good example for the other guys by showing discipline in my bowling and being patient, which is effectively our game plan."

A bowler who often struggled to retain his berth, O'Connor has welcomed the opportunity to play a more influential role, and has a degree of empathy for the other emerging bowlers, especially Tuffey.

Tuffey played his first game of the tour at Paarl last week and looked rusty, but showed more promise against North West, taking three wickets in the first innings and another in the second before stumps.

"I don't try to get into the players' heads, and I doubt they want to hear my voice anyway," O'Connor said. "But there has been a bit of encouragement, particularly for Daryl, who has had a difficult time and was starting to beat himself up over his form.

"I told him if there was anything I had learned over the past few seasons, it was that it's important to put things behind you, and get on with the next ball.

"These are things I've only really come to terms with myself in the past eight months."

Like O'Connor, Tuffey and Martin took three wickets apiece in the first innings as North West were dismissed for 100, conceding a lead of 180 to the tourists.

New Zealand then rattled on 242 for two, courtesy of a second consecutive century in the match for opening batsman Craig Spearman and some solid batting from Stephen Fleming.

Spearman brought up his century in 233 minutes to clock up a total of eight hours' batting, becoming only the sixth player to reach three figures in each innings while playing for the national side, before retiring on 115.

Needing 423 to win the match, North West were 37 for two at stumps.

The South African selectors named a predictable line-up to square off against New Zealand on Friday, with Boeta Dippenaar included as an opening batsman, Neil McKenzie, as Jonty Rhodes' replacement in the middle order, and Makhaya Ntini as the fifth paceman.

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini. The 12th man is Shafiek Abrahams.