Cricket: Parore facing another crisis

By RICHARD BOOCK

NAPIER - New Zealand's most experienced one-day wicketkeeper is facing another crisis point in his cricket career after being dropped from the side to play Australia.

Adam Parore, who last year effected more test dismissals than any other wicketkeeper in the world, has been replaced by Wellington gloveman Chris Nevin for the final two games of the one-day series - at McLean Park on Wednesday and Eden Park on Friday.

Convener of selectors Ross Dykes said last night Parore had lost form and his wicketkeeping had been below standard in the first three completed ODIs, and it was thought Nevin would inject some fresh legs, not to mention vitality into the role.

"Adam's struggled lately," said Dykes. "But having said that, the poor old wicketkeeper carries a huge workload and perhaps we're starting to see the effects of that."

He said Parore remained the test incumbent, but believed the 29-year-old was better off rediscovering his form in Shell Trophy cricket before the first test in Auckland next month.

Nevin's inclusion is one of three changes made to the squad following Saturday night's crushing 48-run loss at Jade Stadium, which gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the National Bank Series.

Swing-bowler Simon Doull, who was selected for the first two matches without playing and then dropped for the next two, has been recalled at the expense of Warren Wisneski, while offspinner Paul Wiseman has been added to the now 13-strong squad.

Parore, the only New Zealand wicketkeeper to have scored 2000 test runs and made 100 test dismissals, has found his career at the crossroads twice previously and has both times managed to negotiate the way back, to the extent he has now played 137 ODIs and 58 tests.

In 1993 he was replaced for a season by Tony Blain after initially being forced out through injury, and in 1995-96 he was stripped of the gloves by coach Glenn Turner, who opted for Canterbury's Lee Germon as both keeper and captain.

Parore's 39 test dismissals in the past calendar year edged out South Africa's Mark Boucher as the highest number for any international gloveman, while his performance at last year's World Cup was solid, and in the ODI arena overall, fairly respectable.

Since playing his first ODI against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in 1992-93, Parore has effected 100 dismissals and has scored 2842 runs at 27.86, including one century and 13 50s.

However, his form since coming back from injury in time for the first ODI against Australia has been lean, with New Zealand coach David Trist saying yesterday every catch needed to be taken and that Parore had missed too many.

Contacted last night, Parore said he was not injured - "not any more than usual, anyway" - and that he could not shed any light on the selectors' decision.

"I really don't want to talk about it," he said.

The 24-year-old Nevin opens the batting for Wellington in the Shell Cup but is not expected to play a similar role for New Zealand, with Mathew Sinclair and Nathan Astle likely to be retained as openers.