By RICHARD BOOCK
New Zealand opening batsman Mark Richardson has suffered a match-threatening back injury on the eve of the first cricket test against Pakistan at Eden Park.
And Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has fired a parting shot at his selectors.
Richardson began struggling with a back complaint during net practice
yesterday and apparently needs to make a marked improvement to be available this morning.
The selectors have rushed in Auckland batsman Lou Vincent as cover for the injured opener and a decision will be made on the final line-up just before play starts.
Convener of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said Richardson would not have been fit enough to play had the test started yesterday.
"Mark has had a back problem in the past and has now sustained a minor strain, which is causing some discomfort," Hadlee said after practice.
He said Vincent was on standby as an opening batsman but had the capacity to slot into the middle order if required.
The news was more encouraging for paceman Daryl Tuffey, who showed little sign of his sore hip during practice yesterday - though a decision on his fitness will also be left until this morning.
On the other side of the fence, it was business as usual for the Pakistan side as the finger-pointing exercises continued between senior players and officials.
Akram, who has been invalided out of the tour along with Shoaib Akhtar and Azher Mahmood, said Pakistan risked a West Indies-like fall from grace if authorities did not act immediately.
"We don't have the player depth and unless we do something about it now, it's a crisis waiting to happen," Wasim said.
"We pick players then drop them and don't see them again. To me, it is crisis point. Look at us now. We can't find a suitable replacement for any of the experienced injured guys."
The other talking point yesterday was the portable pitch, which has proved almost impossible to read because of its lack of history and unusual preparation.
Groundsman Warwick Sisson said the nine-week timeframe had rushed the preparation process, so the surface might not be ideal.
"First time up we just want to get through it and produce a pitch that is satisfactory," Sisson said. "I don't think we'll achieve miracles. It would be a bit too much to ask."
