NZ: Doull out to prove fitness for Australian tour (6 Oct 1997)

October 06, 1997

Doull out to prove fitness for Australian tour

From The Press

Recovering pace bowler Simon Doull will have the first outdoor test on his back injury when he plays for the New Zealand Cricket Academy against Wellington at Lincoln Green today.

Doull has come to Christchurch to satisfy himself and the New Zealand cricket selectors of his fitness for the national team's forthcoming tour of Australia -- the team will be named next week.

He will make a guest appearance for the BIL-sponsored Academy side which begins its playing season with a two-day match against Wellington, followed by a one-day game. Doull has already been working out at the high performance centre during the past few days as he seeks to prove he can perform at top level, despite having two stress fractures in his lower back.

Geoff Allott, another New Zealand pace bowler on the injured list, will also test himself when he appears for Canterbury this weekend in the Academy team's next match.

Opening batsman Bryan Young, another candidate for Australia, is also coming to the Academy to improve his fitness. He will work alongside another Northern Districts international, Dion Nash, who is on the comeback trail after being sidelined by lower back problems.

After the Wellington and Canterbury matches, the Academy hosts Auckland at Rangiora (Oct 25-27), before returning to Lincoln University to play Central Districts (Oct 31-Nov 2) and Otago (Nov 4-6).

Academy: Craig Cumming, Shane Bond (Canty); Chris Gaffaney, Nathan Morland, David Sewell (Otago); Mathew Sinclair, Jacob Oram (Central); Hamish Barton, Chris Brown, Brooke Walker (Auck); Michael Parlane, Gareth Hopkins, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Anderson (Northern).

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