Injured Cairns raring to go to cricket World Cup (29 March 1999)

29 March 1999

Injured Cairns raring to go to cricket World Cup

The Christchurch Press

Injured Canterbury all-rounder Chris Cairns has confirmed his "name will be in the hat" when New Zealand's World Cup cricket squad is announced on Wednesday.

Cairns said last night he had made a good recovery from the achilles injury sustained in the first one-day international against South Africa on February 14. "It's been progressing really well, considering the damage that was done, which was quite extensive," Cairns said.

"The medical team have worked really hard and they're happy with the way things are going.

"No sportsperson likes to take selection for granted, but my name will be in the hat when it's time to be drawn."

Cairns is almost certain to be named in the World Cup squad of 15, filling a vital all-rounder's role which the Black Caps have sadly lacked in the present one-day series against South Africa.

New Zealand selection panel convener Ross Dykes expects Cairns to be available for warm-up games in late April.

Cairns said it had been frustrating missing the South African series. "After we had such a good start to the season against India, we were looking to gauge ourselves against a strong South African team."

But his injury and those of captain Stephen Fleming and Craig McMillan were untimely, Cairns said.

He said the Black Caps had performed admirably against the Proteas, considering "they have been playing the best team in the world, without some key players".

Meanwhile, the Marlborough express-pace bowler Carl Bulfin is almost certain to play in the final one-dayer against South Africa tomorrow after being omitted from Saturday's Eden Park massacre.

Fleming admitted after the rout that it had probably been a mistake to leave out Bulfin for batsman Bryan Young.

The gamble had been taken because the Eden Park pitch had played low and slow all season. "We thought that the wicket wasn't going to offer too much, so Bulfin probably could have been negated," Fleming said. But, in hindsight, Fleming admitted, it would have been handy to have Bulfin "coming in when they were two for 12".

By opting to play Young, New Zealand was left a seam bowler short. Despite the valiant efforts of Canterbury left-armer Geoff Allott, who took four wickets for 47, South Africa amassed 290 for five.

Fleming said yesterday Bulfin was likely to play in the season finale on his home ground, at the Basin Reserve.

Bulfin's Blenheim mentor, former New Zealand fast bowler Gary Bartlett, also expects his protege to get the nod.

While some observers felt the Black Caps should have bowled Bulfin in the final over in the last-ball loss at Napier last Friday, Bartlett believed the rookie was being "looked after really well".

Bartlett was pleased Bulfin had got a chance at international level - "the whole town (Blenheim) is".

"I think the whole country is looking for a hard-working, uncomplicated fast bowler," he said.

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