Morrison Suffers Knockout Blow (3 May 1997)

3 May 1997

Morrison Suffers Knockout Blow

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand selectors yesterday signalled that Auckland fast bowler Danny Morrison's international cricket career could be spoken of in the past tense.

"Reluctantly, the selectors have reached the decision that Danny Morrison does not figure prominently in selection plans for the medium to long term," national selection panel convener Ross Dykes said.

The selectors ignored Morrison's claims and instead chose Otago rookie Shayne O'Connor to replace the injured Simon Doull for the Independence Cup quadrangular limited overs tournament which starts in India next week.

Morrison, 31, who played the last of his 48 tests against England in February before being dropped, could have been seen as an ideal replacement for Doull because of his vast experience gained from playing 96 one-day internationals.

Dykes said the emergence of a number of younger bowlers on the domestic scene last summer counted against Morrison being recalled.

"Already some of them have made successful introductions or returns to international cricket and others have demonstrated that they have the attributes to be a potent force at international level before too long."

Dykes paid tribute to Morrison's contribution to the New Zealand side for the last decade.

"Danny Morrison's record of 160 test wickets over a 10-year period speaks for itself.

"He holds a special place in the New Zealand public's psyche for his superb contribution, always giving 110 per cent and for his gutsy determination in the face of injury," he said.

Morrison's long career has been interrupted throughout the last three years because of a series of injuries, most notably a persistent groin muscle strain which resurfaced again and forced him home from New Zealand's tour of Pakistan last November.

The New Zealand medium-fast seam attack to be used in India is very underdone in terms of experience.

O'Connor has yet to be tested at this level, Andrew Penn has one limited overs cap and colourful Wellingtonian Heath Davis finds himself the senior seamer after just nine one-day internationals.

O'Connor, 23, a tall left arm medium-fast bowler raised and educated in Hawkes Bay, joined the New Zealand team in Auckland yesterday. New Zealand departs for India tomorrow and its first Independence Cup match against Pakistan is in Mohali on Friday.

"Shayne has the ability to swing the ball both ways and, being a left armer, he adds to the variety of our attack," Dykes said.

O'Connor enjoyed a successful season with Otago last summer, capturing 28 Shell Trophy wickets at an average of 21.53 and taking 16 wickets in the Shell Cup series.

"O'Connor's selection is consistent with our policy of promoting form players," Dykes said.

"It also fits our philosophy for one-day cricket which is to attack and take wickets in the first 10 to 15 overs." Doull withdrew from the tour party on Thursday after a CAT scan revealed one and possibly two stress fractures in his lower back. -- NZPA

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