New Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy came to New Zealand from South Africa with few preconceived ideas about what his job would hold - but not even in his wildest dreams would he have envisaged having so much time with international cricketer Chris Cairns.
Nosworthy assumed, like everyone else, that hemight have the man who was at one time the best allrounder playing the game (and who would no doubt like to reclaim that title from England's Andrew Flintoff at the 2007 World Cup) for a few State Shield games over the holiday period but that would probably be about his lot.
Instead he has found himself with a fully committed Cairns as he charts his international rehabilitation. Cairns was told by the New Zealand selectors that his lack of cricket fitness was handicapping his performance to the extent he was no longer useful to the Black Caps.
Nosworthy likes what he has seen. "The story was just sort of breaking when I arrived here that Chris wasn't going to go to South Africa so I wasn't really sure what was happening," Nosworthy said. "But Chris has been excellent.
"He's played a full part in everything we've done and has shown the way, really."
Nosworthy said he faced a similar situation when coaching in South Africa. Proteas bowler Steve Elsworthy was approaching his mid-30s and realised he needed more cricket, rather than less, to keep his body going.
Nosworthy said there could be no question over Cairns' form at the batting crease following a 101-ball 118 against Central Districts in a warm-up match last week.
Cairns has also added another couple of half centuries in various matches. He will play a double header for Lancaster Park-Woolston this weekend in Christchurch club cricket before playing for Canterbury again against the Academy at Lincoln in midweek.
Ironically, his bowling is being monitored now to make sure he is not overworked.
Should Cairns not be selected for the Black Caps for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy starting early next month, he'll be available for Canterbury's opening match in the State Championship.
