Under-19 team loses captain

Press, 20 February 1988, Page 15

Under-19 team loses captain

PA Hamilton New Zealand’s national under-19 cricket team has lost its captain, Lee Germon, for the remainder of its international tour. But the national coach, John Howell, expects Germon will be fit again in time for the inaugural youth World Cup in South Australia.

Germon, this season’s regular Canterbury Shell Series wicket-keeper, injured his right ankle on Thursday during warm-ups before the youth test against India resumed at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

“He stepped in a hole on the ground,” Mr Howell said.

Germon was carried to the stand and taken to Waikato Hospital, from where he returned on crutches. There was, however, no fracture diagnosed, simply a sprain. "He won’t play again in New Zealand,” said the team coach. New Zealand has oneday youth internationals to

play against India at Morrinsville and Auckland after the four-day match which ended yesterday. Germon is expected to be recovered by February 28, when the youth World Cup, one of Australia's bicentennial celebrations, is due to open. Marlborough’s Mark Lane took over behind the stumps while India batted, and accepted a catch. He is a regular wicket-keeper.

New Zealand’s vice-cap-tain, who will take over in Germon’s absence, is the allrounder, Chris Cairns. He represented Northern Districts in junior representative cricket this season, while living in Te Puke with his father, Lance, the former New Zealand test player. Germon is a Christchurch Boys’ High School student. Father and son were N. D. captains — Dad of the Shell Cup team, and Chris of the under-18s.