Dion Nash, a solidly-built right-hander, burst onto the international scene with 11 wickets and a half-century in his fifth Test and his first at Lord's in 1994. But a series of back injuries so interrupted Nash's progress that what looked like being a stirring career as allrounder and captain was cut off in its prime. When Stephen Fleming was injured during the 1998-99 home season Nash took over the captaincy against South Africa, and while the Test series was lost, Nash's aggressive on-field leadership impressed those critics who found Fleming's captaincy style too laid-back. The New Zealand team has also lacked Nash's hard-minded attitude: he was never afraid to assert his rights in the middle. His favourite and most spectacular stroke was the straight-drive, although as injuries restricted his footwork, he developed a muscular back foot drive through the covers. He finally retired from international cricket after the 2001-02 season, and in June 2005 he was named as one of New Zealand's national selectors
Don Cameron