August 14, 1997

Cairns faces bowling fitness test

From The Press

Chris Cairns' availability for the New Zealand cricket team's tour to Kenya and Zimbabwe in September will be finalised when the squad trains next week.

The Canterbury all-rounder has been making steady progress in recent weeks after an operation to remove a bone chip from his left ankle.

Cairns said yesterday he is now bowling at 60 per cent, but the true test of his recovery will be when he increases the workload during the New Zealand team's three-day camp, beginning on Monday at Lincoln University. The Canterbury all-rounder is certain he will make a return to bowling at full pace again this season, but may not be ready for the season's first tour during September. "We'll see how things go at the camp and then it will be up to the selectors. "I can certainly bat without a problem but it depends what level the bowling is at and what the selectors want," Cairns said.

The injury affects Cairns's left foot, which he lands on as he bowls.

"It's a matter of working through the scar tissue at the moment. It's a bit like an exaggerated achilles tendon injury," Cairns said. Cairns is one of several players whose fitness the New Zealand selectors are seeking to clarify before naming the side for the tour on August 21. The others doubtful are Simon Doull (stress fracture), Geoff Allott (knee surgery), Heath Davis (knee ligaments), and Gavin Larsen (heel problem).

Shayne O'Connor and Andrew Penn, who are pressing for pace bowling places, are with the New Zealand Academy team, which begins a series against their South African counterparts in Durban today. Their early tour form will be monitored by national coach Steve Rixon, who is also coaching the Academy side.

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)