WELLINGTON, 26 December 2003 — The New Zealand cricket team, psychologically on the back foot going into today’s second Test against Pakistan, received further bad news on the eve of the match as a virus struck all-rounder Chris Cairns.
Pakistan are on a roll after destroying the New Zealand batting top order on the final day of the first Test, before rain and bad light intervened to ensure the match ended in a draw. They will be further strengthened at the Basin Reserve Test with the expected return of Shoaib Akhtar, the world’s fastest bowler, who missed the first encounter because of a slight hamstring strain.
New Zealand coach John Bracewell tried to put a positive spin on the impact of the first Test batting collapse, saying it was just a glitch. “We lost some psychological points which we need to regain, based around continual focus,” Bracewell said.
“It’s a first session, fresh game, and those are the things we’ll be talking about, how you recover from a psychological deficit.
“It’s a matter of gaining that momentum straight away.”
But the condition of Cairns adds to the problems, and batsman Richard Jones, 12th man in the first Test, has been recalled to the squad as cover.
“Chris has a virus and hasn’t eaten at all today, we’re concerned about it and he’s in doubt for tomorrow,’’ manager Lindsay Crocker said, adding a decision on Cairns fitness would be left until the last minutes.
Cairns is aiming to become the sixth cricketer to take 200 wickets and score 3,000 Test runs, but in Hamilton he went wicketless off 17 overs to remain on 197 Test scalps, while with the bat he scored 11 and 0 to sit on 2,867 runs.
His absence could mean a recall for off-spinner Paul Wiseman and more bowling onus on Scott Styris and Craig McMillan.
While the Black Caps were struggling in the Test build up, Pakistan were on a roll.
Speedster Mohammad Sami snared five wickets to reduce New Zealand to 96 for eight in their second innings in the first Test and Akhtar was likely to join him with the new ball. Bracewell though was interested to see how the Pakistan paceman adjusted to the expected gale-force northerly and shifty run-ups at the Basin.
“The outfield is obviously quite heavy, they’ve had some rain which will make the run-ups a bit heavier which may be an advantage to us as well,” he said.
“There are little things that can change the momentum. They’ve got bowlers who run in hard, run in very fast, if they’re going through a soft outfield it’ll make it hard.”
