Allott in doubt for Canterbury match

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 40

Allott in doubt for Canterbury match

PA Wellington Wellington’s star turn, Paul Allott, will leave it till shortly before play this morning before he decides whether he is fit enough to bowl in his team’s Shell Trophy cricket match against Canterbury at the Hutt Recreation Ground. “I had a bit of a run and a bowl today and there was no adverse reaction,” said Allott last night. He was sidelined last Friday when he pinched a nerve in his neck, bowling against Central Districts at the Basin Reserve.

“I’m hopeful I’ll be okay. It’s something I’ve never done before. At this stage I’m not worried about it. When you have been playing for 10 years you become a bit philosophical.” Allott, aged 29, said he did not know how the injury had developed. Last Friday it caused Wellington’s Eng-

lish import considerable inconvenience but with treatment the complaint has eased.

Wellington will be delighted if Allott is able to play. The Hutt wicket has a reputation for providing the seamers with heaps of encouragement, and the strip prepared for this match looks like staying with tradition.

Should Allott have any last minute problems a former Nelson representative, Wayne Aberhart, will make his first-class debut.

Allott could provide Canterbury with plenty of headaches. It has already experienced problems lately with its opening batsmen, Anup Nathu and Peter Kennedy, and last night the captain, Vaughan Brown, hinted that David Stead, an accomplished opener, might be promoted in the order in place of Kennedy.

Wellington will be anxious to ensure that its slip catchers back up the opening bowlers, unlike the situation against Central where the ball was repeatedly spilled behind the wicket.

With the necessary support Allott could be a match-winner. Certainly the England international appeals as the best bowler to take advantage of the anticipated sideways movement and variable bounce.

Both sides have stuck with the same 12 players as assembled for their last trophy games, and Canterbury again appears destined to omit the spinner, Garry MacDonald.

Brown expressed some concern as to how the wicket would play, and the relatively short boundaries on the side were worrying him too.