Nash bows out
From the New Zealand Herald, May 2, 2002

New Zealand allrounder Dion Nash has announced his retirement from international cricket.

Nash was not clear about why he had chosen to end his 10-year involvement with the Black Caps, but two weeks ago he expressed concern about a hip injury, the latest of a long line of injuries that have dogged his career.

"I've decided to retire," he told One Midday News today.

"It's good actually. I'm pleased I've come to a decision, it's taken a while but I feel like I've covered all the bases and I feel happy with my decision."

The 30-year-old Aucklander said the hardest thing about his decision was telling his New Zealand team-mates.

He indicated he had made his decision last month.

"I spoke to them a few weeks ago and it was hard. Trying to tell them that I wasn't going to be there for the World Cup and that it was over.

"For me personally it's the right thing, it's the right time in my life to be moving on."

Nash played just 32 tests since making his debut against Zimbabwe in Harare in 1992.

He took 93 wickets at an average of 28.48 and scored 729 runs at 23.51.

He also played 81 one-day internationals, taking 64 wickets and scoring 624 runs.

His most memorable performance was taking 11 wickets for 169 in the drawn second test against England at Lords in 1994.

However, it was the winning tour of England five years later which he described as a career highlight.

"Specifically the (victorious) Oval test. There was a long buildup and a lot involved.

"The team grew so much over that time so to come through and win that series was one of the most special times I can remember.

"New Zealand cricket is still benefiting from it. We all grew as men on that tour and the senior players are still leading the way."

Nash was not clear whether he would continue to play at any domestic level.

However, he said the first test against Australia in Brisbane and the first of the tri-series finals against South Africa in Melbourne would be his last contributions for the Black Caps.

Typically, both those games ended with Nash leaving the field mid-match with an injury.

His latest injury was a mysterious hip problem suffered in the Melbourne match. He was to undergo a scan to determine the extent of the problem.

Two weeks ago he said he was frustrated that specialists had been unable to provide a diagnosis.

"I can bowl now but I know things aren't right and I have to know if it's going to be trouble in the future," Nash said at the time.

"I've learned the hard way not to push injuries but I've got to the stage now that if I see another physio I will just about blow up.

"I thought that at 30 I would have had a good career behind me. But there has been so much disruption, you often wonder whether it's worth carrying on."

Nash had a controversial domestic season, being banned for three games for abusing an umpire and an opposing batsman while playing for Auckland against Otago just before Christmas.

His fiance, former New Zealand netball captain Bernice Mene, also recently announced her international retirement. Nash said he wasn't influenced by it.

- NZPA

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