Cricket: The old player carousel goes round and round

By Don Cameron

In past times when the national cricket selectors were shuffling players, especially bowlers, at a rapid rate into and out of the team, we might charitably note that the old merry-go-round was again picking up speed as the selectors were taking aboard and discarding players as if by centrifugal force.

In more recent times, we find that the old carousel is still in the funpark, but as players are moved on and off there are signs that the engine is developing an uncharitable rattle.

In this and the previous three seasons New Zealand have fielded no fewer than 26 bowlers, and there are five other relics from past New Zealand campaigns still bowling in first-class cricket here.

On the form shown in the five recent one-dayers, the Australian batsmen have genially slaughtered whatever bowling attack (actually, the word "attack" might not be totally appropriate) the New Zealanders have presented.

The first five one-dayers left New Zealand cricket thinking and planning in disarray, and even a win last night might not paper over all the cracks, nor dispel the confusion which is caused not only by the playing performances but also by the public utterances from within the New Zealand camp (the word "team" may be discarded for the moment).

There was David Trist's classic comment that the New Zealanders were "over-aroused" in their early batting against the Australians, when "overwhelmed" seemed a better choice.

After conceding 300-plus on Carisbrook and Jade Stadium feather-beds, Trist and his captain, Stephen Fleming, both maintained those pitches pointed the way to the future. Only when all the major pitches in New Zealand were "belters," so their reasoning went, would New Zealand climb toward the standard set by the Australians.

Before nominating Trist and Fleming as the latest members of the Flat Earth Society, it might be pertinent to point out that ideal international pitches vary from country to country, from city to city, from climate to climate.

If Fleming or Trist has the magic recipe to make all pitches A1 for batting, they had better not run into members of the Bowlers' Union on a dark night.

The same union might have several questions which the New Zealand team management might answer.

Paul Wiseman has been in and out of the New Zealand team since 1996. He must have gained some skill in that time. But how is he expected to develop his one-day bowling on the helpful pitch Napier provided when he has spells of 1, 2, 2, 3 and 2 overs?

Who proposed the vote of no confidence in Chris Harris, not required after bowling two overs for 17?

After Simon Doull's strong right arm swung like a rusty gate after a total of 18.2 top-level overs this summer, why is he being kept out of the Northern Districts side to play the Australians before the first test next week, and then considered as a fully fit, primed-to-the-minute candidate for the test side?

Did he do the physical jerks with the New Zealanders at Napier?

Why is there the rumour floating about that Chris Nevin will go and Adam Parore return to the test keeping post? Was not Nevin the best available keeper when Parore lost form?

Is Nevin, who looked quick and talented at Napier, suddenly regarded as inferior?

Why was Mathew Sinclair suddenly turned into an opening batsman when Craig Spearman was dumped, with Fleming in good form and the obvious man to partner Nathan Astle? Fleming came in when the totals were 2 and 0.

What will happen to Scott Styris and Warren Wisneski? Will they join Andrew Penn and Alex Tait as the international casualties of 1999-2000?

What has happened to Chris Drum, regarded by experts a year or two ago as having the classical fast-medium outswing action, but who now seems to have developed the left-side fall-away open-chested style?

And now that Robert Kennedy has been returned to the fringe of the New Zealand team (but at Napier not ranking ahead of the other seven bowlers in the side) do the selectors still have Glenn Jonas' phone number?

He made it to Pakistan in 1996. Did not get a game. Took six for 39 in his first game for Otago last month. Not quite 30. Born at Carterton. Can fix wobbly merry-go-rounds. Obviously a top New Zealand candidate.