Nash ready to overcome a touch of the Tufnells
By David Townsend
From the Evening Standard, April 20, 1995

David Townsend reports that Middlesex's new all-rounder is determined to do better than two of his Antipodean predecessors.

DION NASH is determined to put a troubled few months behind him and make a good impression as Middlesex's overseas signing.

The 23-year-old New Zealand Test all-rounder has had what could be described as a Phil Tufnell of a year: good performances on the field, bad publicity off it.

After a unique Lord's Test haul of 11 wickets and a half-century for New Zealand had encouraged Middlesex to speculate on his potential, Nash found himself embroiled in a cannabis-smoking scandal in South Africa.

'It was a question of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,' he explained. 'I was at a party where it was being smoked and I was wrongly accused - along with two other players - of joining in. We were set-up.'

Nash was found not to have had a trace of the drug in his system during a subsequent test.

He appears genuinely aggrieved by both the accusations and the Test ban that was imposed on him by the New Zealand Board.

'I'm not a dope smoker,' he said. 'To be labelled with that, and to see the stuff my family and friends had to put up with at home, was pretty disappointing.'

Fresh faced but jet-lagged, Nash has thrown himself into pre-season practice matches at Uxbridge with the passion of someone who needs to prove himself over again, and he impressed with a rapid spell against Gloucestershire on Sunday.

Middlesex coach Don Bennett said: 'He's a nice lad, and, I'll tell you what, he looks as though he can bat a bit too.'

A quick bowler who is handy with the bat is a precious cricketing commodity and Nash received offers from four other counties before agreeing to succeed Desmond Haynes as the club's eighth overseas star in recent times.

Once Middlesex declared an interest, Nash took little persuading. 'The chance to play regularly at Lord's was a big attraction,' he said. 'It's the home of cricket and that means a lot in New Zealand. I like all that tradition.

'Also, Middlesex are one of the premier teams and playing with experienced players such as Mike Gatting and John Emburey has got to be good for me. 'I hope to be offering something to the club, obviously, but I'm here to learn as well and in doing so I'll be able to offer more.'

A Kiwi quick bowler who can bat a bit inevitably draws comparisons with Sir Richard Hadlee. Nash laughs: 'A lot of people back home would like me to be a new Hadlee!

"The tag has been bandied around but I've got a fair way to go to live up to that sort of reputation.

'Since the Lord's Test last year Richard has been very helpful with tips and fine-tuning.

"He was a playing hero of mine, along with Ian Botham, and if I could get anywhere near his record I'll have done well.'

While Nash is their first Kiwi overseas signing, Middlesex will be hoping he proves better value than two antipodean predecessors: Jeff Thomson and Alan Connolly.

Thomson broke down with a hernia and played less than half a season but Nash is confident his recent injury worries are over.

'I had a side strain in South Africa and tried to come back a couple of weeks too early and it went again,' he explained.

'Then I broke a finger. But I haven't got a history of injuries.'

Any fears among Middlesex supporters that Nash will show as little enthusiasm for county cricket as Victorian Connolly or any number of big names at other clubs can be discounted.

He insists: 'One of my first goals this season is to do well enough to be offered an extension on my two-year contract.

"Richard Hadlee played a lot of cricket over here and I want to be around for a long time, too.'

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