Hockey: Shaw gives cricket hopes the big flick

The most lethal weapon in New Zealand hockey has made a surprise and welcome return to the turf.

Just weeks out from the start of the new representative cricket season, Hayden Shaw has ripped up his contract with Canterbury Cricket (and a guaranteed $25,000 to $30,000 income), packed away his cricket bat and picked up his hockey stick.

"It has not been an easy decision but it is one I have wrestled with over the last month," Shaw said yesterday.

"I came to the realisation of my love for hockey and that I wasn't going to be the nasty, fasty new-ball bowler I had hoped, and that I was unlikely to reach my goal of playing for New Zealand at cricket."

The Blacks Caps' loss has become the Black Sticks' gain, with the potent drag-flicker being rushed back to the international stage to play against Fiji and Australia in next month's Oceania Cup tournament in Fiji, which doubles as a World Cup qualifier.

"I was always a hockey player who played cricket," said Shaw, 25.

"To reach my goal of playing for the Black Caps I needed to put more passion into my batting and fielding. I couldn't see myself doing that, so here I am."

Given his contract with Canterbury Cricket, Shaw's first stop was to clear the air with chief executive Richard Reid.

"He was really good. He knew that if I was not going to be giving my cricket 100 per cent, there was no point in holding me.

"It is a bit unfortunate as I was one of only two fast-bowlers contracted to them but that did not stop Richard Reid giving me the okay to walk away."

Reid said Shaw's decision was a shock. "But having said that, you don't hold people to something they don't really want to do.

"Sure, it is not helpful given our position with fast-bowlers - we have also lost Chris Martin to Auckland - but I will meet the selectors in the morning and take it from there."

Reid said they could look outside the province, or even the country, in their search for a replacement.

"We are not ruling out anything. We are only a day into looking at it but we will come up with something."

Shaw's return on the day after fellow defender Dion Gosling announced his retirement is purely coincidental but welcome news for national coach Kevin Towns.

"We talked when I was in Christchurch last Friday," said Towns. "He had a change of heart and I think the enjoyment he got in being part of Canterbury's success in the National Hockey League has played a big part in his decision.

"He has always been straight-up with me and this is just another chapter in his hockey career."

Shaw will join his New Zealand team-mates in Auckland next month to prepare for the Oceania Cup and will be back in February when the national squad will be based in Auckland until late September.

Shaw, who is completing his teaching degree, is looking forward to coming north next year and hopes to teach part-time.

The out-of-towners are expected to play club hockey in Auckland or North Harbour next season.