Cricket: Reduced squad causes headaches as injuries hit

8.00am - By MARK GEENTY

LEEDS - New Zealand cricket team management are standing by the decision to take just 14 players and six officials on tour despite their playing resources being stretched almost to breaking point here.

The England tour reached its lowest ebb yesterday when Daniel Vettori's hamstring tear left New Zealand with just 10 fit players, no spin bowling backup, and the prospect of going into the third test without a spinner.

Captain Stephen Fleming appeared irked by the situation when asked about the size of the squad, saying it was "a question for John (coach John Bracewell)".

"Yeah, there are a lot of concerns. Getting 11 fit guys is one concern at the moment. We're getting guys up and down the motorway but that's all," Fleming said.

Batsman Mathew Sinclair and left-arm paceman James Franklin, both playing league cricket in England, are now part of the squad for the third test starting in Nottingham on Thursday as Shane Bond flies home tomorrow.

But on the spinning front there is no-one, and the two leading candidates, Bruce Martin and Paul Wiseman, wouldn't arrive from New Zealand in time to be considered for the third test.

Money is the reason for a reduced playing squad, with the England Cricket Board only paying hotel bills for a tour party of 20.

But with a reduced management team there would be room for more players in what appears the smallest squad ever taken away on a test tour.

Former players today recalled a squad of 17 players and just a coach, manager and physiotherapist on the 1990 tour here.

The current management includes Bracewell, manager Lindsay Crocker, assistant coach Vaughn Johnson, physio Dayle Shackel, video analyst Zach Hitchcock and medical co-ordinator Warren Frost -- who will interchange with sports psychologist Gilbert Enoka.

Bracewell said pre-tour that the gifts of allrounders Chris Cairns and Jacob Oram allowed one less player, while the expected spinner-unfriendly conditions saw a second spinner not required.

Crocker said Bond's continued back problems had complicated the issue.

"We had a choice of 15 players and five management team, but we chose 14 players and a full complement of six management. The expectation was Bond would be right, hopefully for the second test," Crocker said.

"Within the 14-man squad we've still got Kyle Mills who hasn't played in the internationals.

"We haven't exhausted our current supply, and we can cover from people on the ground in England."

- NZPA