Cricket: Doull still has international hopes

Simon Doull still has ambitions to play for New Zealand again - despite the selectors not calling on him so far this season.

The Northern Districts swing bowler has taken a full part in the Shell Trophy series after surgery in the winter on his troublesome right knee.

Doull, aged 31, who has taken 98 wickets in 32 tests at an average of average 29.30, said yesterday that the milestone of 100 test wickets was not the motivating factor in him wanting to return to test cricket.

"If I played for New Zealand again, I wouldn't just want to get two wickets," he said. "I want to play for another couple of seasons and, if that works out, that's fine."

Doull saw little action against Otago on the second day of their Shell Trophy encounter at Carisbrook yesterday.

Rain and drizzle allowed only 5.1 overs of play.

Northern Districts advanced their score from 223 for nine to 232 without further loss, with Daryl Tuffey unbeaten on 28 (off 63 balls) and Bruce Martin unbeaten on one (25 balls).

But the drizzle began again about 3 pm and play was abandoned after a day of frustration.

There are now a maximum 200 overs (weather permitting) available in which to achieve an outright result, which both teams want to keep them in touch with competition leaders Wellington.

Hamilton-based Doull confirmed he had been available for New Zealand from the last Shell Trophy game before Christmas.

"I would love to get back in there. It's up to my performances and up to the selectors picking me again, but I've definitely got ambitions to still play."

Doull said he was lacking in confidence and treading "a little gingerly" at the outset of the Shell series.

"But after the game against Canterbury at Rangiora, I started to get a little bit of pace and rhythm back. Since then it's been really good and I've been really happy with the knee.

"I feel it every now and then, but it's not stopping me from playing and it's not hindering anything I'm doing."

Doull said he had no qualms now about getting through his quota of overs, either at Shell Trophy or test level.

"I got through about 110 overs in the three Shell Trophy games before Christmas and I'm more than happy than I can get through my share of the workload."

Doull has taken nine wickets (average 20.33) in the Shell Trophy so far this season, but it has been his batting, in both competitions, which has flourished.

Used as a pinch-hitting opener, Doull has scored 162 (average 32.40) in the Shell Cup and 142 (28.40) down the order in the Shell Trophy.

- NZPA