Cricket: Sulzberger - from Sydney to Harare

Central Districts cricketer Glen Sulzberger was in Sydney watching the Olympics when he received a surprise call-up to the New Zealand cricket team.

He replaces Daniel Vettori, who is returning home for treatment for his back injury. Vettori, the youngest spinner to take 100 test wickets, might also miss the tour of South Africa.

Sulzberger is the second player called up to cover for injuries, following Chris Harris' departure at the weekend.

Sulzberger received word of his inclusion from New Zealand convener of selectors, Sir Richard Hadlee, while in Sydney to watch his fiancee, Moira Senior, who is a member of the New Zealand hockey team. The news caught the 27-year-old Sulzberger by surprise.

"I was shocked actually," he said yesterday while on his way back home to Palmerston North to prepare for his departure to Zimbabwe. "I had just got to Sydney and I was caught up in all the hype and quite excited about getting to watch some of the Olympic events."

Sulzberger is expected to take on the role of offspinner and middle-order batsman for the New Zealanders in the one-dayers in Zimbabwe and the ICC tournament in Kenya.

He had no idea how he would be used.

"Those sort of decisions are made by the management team and I've had no indication at this stage. I'm hoping that I do get to play some games," he said.

Sulzberger scored 628 runs for Central last season at an average of 48.31 and was the team's leading run-scorer. He felt his good form on the New Zealand A tour of England earlier this year helped to gain him promotion to the top team.

Sulzberger will leave for Africa tomorrow morning with one-day specialists Roger Twose, Geoff Allott and Chris Nevin.

New Zealand have also been hampered by injuries to opening batsmen Matt Horne and Craig Spearman, and allrounder Chris Cairns in the lead-up to the second test, which starts in Harare tonight.

Horne (hand injury) and Spearman (leg injury) are not expected to be included in the test line-up, but the New Zealanders are hopeful about the fitness of Cairns, who is struggling with a knee problem.

The injury means Cairns is unlikely to take any part in the three one-dayers against Zimbabwe, although he will remain with the touring party for the subsequent tournament in Kenya, according to team officials.

Rookie paceman Daryl Tuffey, who was to return home after the Harare test, will now remain with the squad as cover for Cairns.

Coach David Trist says that despite the setbacks, completing a 2-0 series win over Zimbabwe is the minimum requirement for the New Zealanders

The areas of improvement required were clear after the team did not force any of the pace until the fourth day of the first test.

Horne broke the top-order drought of centuries, but others such as captain Stephen Fleming and Nathan Astle remain well overdue for test hundreds.

The fact that many of the dismissals came at crucial times near breaks in play was another thing which Trist wanted addressed.

"Mentally we have to go harder for longer and be tougher on ourselves."

Both the umpires who created controversy in the first test - Darrell Hair and Russell Tiffin - are not standing in this test.

Hair, from Australia, no balled Zimbabwe spinner Grant Flower for throwing and Tiffin gave marginal decisions against Astle, Horne and Fleming.

England's David Shepherd, who umpired the first test against the West Indies in Hamilton in December, will be joined by local Ian Robinson.

New Zealand (possible): Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Dion Nash, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor.

Zimbabwe (from): Heath Streak (captain), Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie, Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart, Mluleki Nkala, Paul Strang, Bryan Strang, David Mutendera, Henry Olonga, Mpumelelo Mbangwa.

Umpires: Ian Robinson (Zimbabwe), David Shepherd (England).

- NZPA