New Zealand 'can beat Australian bullies'
From The Press, February 11, 2000

London - Dion Nash is a big loss but the Black Caps can still beat Australia in next month's cricket test series against Australia, Gloucester county coach John Bracewell says.

Bracewell also warned the Black Caps not to back down against the Australians whom he described as "bullies" and "poor losers".

New Zealand begins its three-test series against Australia at Eden Park on March 11, and play the first of six one-dayers in Wellington next week.

Nash is out for the season with a back injury and former New Zealand test bowler Bracewell said he would be difficult to replace.

"He is a big loss. He kept Chris Cairns honest last year and it's no coincidence that the New Zealand standards lifted since Dion returned to the side," he said.

"Dion is viciously and unashamedly competitive. Every great All Black side had a Buck Shelford or an Andy Earl, and Dion was a similar competitor on the cricket pitch.

"He has that mongrel in him and leads the way by example.

"Dion is one of those guys who provides the needle and they'll miss that in the test series against Australia."

Bracewell said Nash never backed off in the heat of the occasion, a determination that would be necessary against the acerbic Australians.

He bowled with inspiration in New Zealand's World Cup win over Australia at Cardiff last May and Bracewell believes that Nash, not Chris Cairns, was the outstanding bowler of the long tour of England.

Cairns was named player of the test series but Nash did plenty of hard work at the other end.

"It reminded me of the Ewen Chatfield-Richard Hadlee combination. Cairns couldn't get wickets without someone applying the pressure at the other end. Nash's stimulating efforts allowed Cairns to express his extraordinary talents."

Nash is out of action for six months with a stress fracture in his lower spine and will be striving to win a place in the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in October.

Bracewell said either Shayne O'Connor or Warren Wisneski would be ideal replacements for next month's test series.

"O'Connor could do the job. He has the talent and needs to be given more confidence to be able to take on that role. He is not as volatile as Dion but doesn't back off.

"But Wisneski is really competitive like Nash. Our Gloucester captain (and England player) Mark Alleyne said Wisneski was the best bowler in the New Zealand A side when England A were there recently.

"Don't worry, we can still win without Dion. The current side is probably one of the best New Zealand teams to come out the country for many years.

"In terms of collective skills they are better than our side of the 1980s, who had one or two good players with the rest supporting them."

Bracewell said New Zealand was a well-balanced side and Stephen Fleming had matured to become an outstanding captain.

Fleming struggled initially simply because of inexperience but the management team headed by John Graham had helped him mature quicker than perhaps he would have under any other structure, he said.

Bracewell said the New Zealand batsmen would have to keep the scoreboard ticking over against the Australian bowlers who liked to ruffle batsmen.

"Don't take a backward step against them. The Aussies are very poor losers and like all bullies they don't like being bullied."

Bracewell is preparing for his third season as coach of Gloucester, which won a record two knockout finals at Lord's last year.

[Articles]