Monday, Dec 09, 2002
Monday, Dec 09, 2002 |
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Cricket
By Our Special Correspondent
Mason, who grabbed three for 46, scalping Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly in the Indian first innings, on a seaming McLean Park wicket, edged out a stiff challenge from compatriot Lance Hamilton. The 29-year-old Wellington born Mason, who loves to hunt when he's not playing cricket, has 95 victims in 31 first class matches, and his selection is a reward for consistency over the years. ``I am both shocked and surprised. Now I have to think about the next game,'' Mason said. About his other passion, he revealed, "it's a different feeling up there in the quiet mountains when I hunt.'' ``Mason is a bowler with good pace, and swings the ball away from the right-handed batsmen,'' said Sir Richard Hadlee, the chairman of selectors. Central Districts' captain, all-rounder Jacob Oram, who missed the tour game against India due to a hamstring injury, also finds a place, after successfully undergoing fitness tests by the New Zealand cricket medical panel. "I am fit. I have bowled against the Indians in the past in the one-dayers,'' he said. On Oram, Hadlee observed, "his selection follows huge progress in his bowling. He has brisk pace and his height makes for increased bounce, which can prove awkward for batsmen in some conditions. He has been an impressive all-rounder for the Central Districts this season with the bat and the ball.'' Mason and the 24-year-old Oram, both, uncapped in Tests so far, will in all probability, fight for the third paceman's slot in the eleven, with Daryll Tuffey likely to share the new ball with spearhead Shane Bond. The New Zealand pace bowling scene has been rocked by injuries in recent times, with star all-rounder Chris Cairns, Shayne O'Connor, Ian Butler and Andre Adams, all undergoing rehabilitation programmes. Otherwise, there are several familiar faces in the Stephen Fleming led New Zealand side. Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent are the openers, and Fleming, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, the specialist batsmen, which means Mathew Sinclair misses out. Scott Styris, is the batting all-rounder, Robbie Hart, the wicket-keeper, and left-armer Daniel Vettori, the lone spinner in the side. ``We are backing experience and what we know by putting our faith in players who have performed at the top level. I am, however, concerned about the lack of runs and wickets from leading players in recent matches,'' said Hadlee. Skipper Fleming bagged a pair, turning out for Wellington, against Auckland recently, and the form of the other experienced Kiwis hasn't been any better. The New Zealand squad: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori, Shane Bond, Daryll Tuffey and Michael Mason.
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