Bracewell's cricket journey

In four tests New Zealand's Doug Bracewell has taken taken 21 wickets, and inspired a historic win against Australia in Hobart. But, as Mark Geenty finds out in the Fairfax NZ News, if Bracewell hadn't broken his ankle on a rugby trip to Perth aged 17, rugby might have just won over cricket.

The oval ball game was king for young Bracewell, a promising first five-eighth or fullback who emerged through Rathkeale College into Wairarapa-Bush age-grade sides. He'd played at Hurricanes junior tournaments against the Whitelock brothers, rising stars with Manawatu, and wanted a taste for more. His father, Brendon, arranged him a season in Perth on leaving school. Then, perhaps to New Zealand Cricket's eternal relief, fate intervened.