Make-or-break time looms for Harris (27 February 1999)

27 February 1999

Make-or-break time looms for Harris

The Christchurch Press

Chris Harris's tortuous test cricket career reaches a watershed in New Zealand's three-test BNZ series against South Africa, starting at Auckland's Eden Park today.

The injury to Chris Cairns has given Harris a lifeline in what must be a make-or-break opportunity for the popular 29-year-old Cantabrian.

Harris continues to frustrate followers, and himself, with an inability to turn quality first-class form into a permanent place in the test line-up. How he must wish his 14-test bowling average (68.11) and batting average (15.60) were reversed.

Harris is well aware of the situation and knows he must translate the confidence he exudes in the one-day arena to the five-day level.

With a preference for front-foot play, Harris has struggled in the longer version of the game as opposing teams quickly assess and exploit any weaknesses at the highest level.

If Harris fails with the bat in this series -- the discipline where he must stake his test claim -- he may not be persevered with as a possible test player on the tour to England later in the year (post World Cup), the only tour where players can be developed for the future.

Harris's return should be helped by the expected low, slow nature of the Eden Park pitch, where grass growth has been badly affected by a fungus.

That is likely to emasculate the vaunted South African pace bowling attack and provide New Zealand with its best chance of a test win in the series, weather permitting.

The long range forecast is for rain today, followed by some showers on the other days.

With quicker surfaces expected in Christchurch and Wellington, where the following two tests are played, South Africa's speedsters are more likely to come into play.

The dilemma for South Africa going into this test will be whether to take an extra slow bowler, left-armer Nicky Boje, into the team alongside unorthodox left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams, who will play.

New Zealand faces a similar selection conundrum. It could select two spinners, Daniel Vettori and Matthew Hart, but that would probably be at the expense of a specialist seam bowler, either Geoff Allott or Simon Doull.

New Zealand (from): Matthew Bell, Matthew Horne, Roger Twose, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Harris, Adam Parore, Dion Nash (captain), Hart, Vettori, Doull, Allott.

South Africa (likely 12): Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Hansie Cronje (captain), Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Adams, Allan Donald, Boje.

Umpires: Darryl Harper (Aust), Doug Cowie (NZ).

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