Blain replaces Crowe

Press, 7 October 1988, Page 40

Blain replaces Crowe

By JOHN COFFEY Tony Blain has been chosen to replace Martin Crowe in the New Zealand cricket team which leaves for its tour of India later this month. In making the announcement yesterday the New Zealand Cricket Council chairman, Barry Paterson, emphasised that Blain was selected as a middle-order batsman. He will also be a i valuable second-string wicket-keeper in support of lan Smith. I Blain was given the I middle-order role after the selectors had noted the New Zealand side already had John

Wright, Trevor Franklin and Robert Vance as specialist opening bats-

men. Another opener, Phil Horne, who is presently a team-mate of Blain with the Young New Zealand squad in Zimbabwe, was not considered for the Indian tour. Horne was not available until November 10, two days before the first test, because he is getting married in Auckland after returning from Zimbabwe. Blain, aged 26, has already travelled to a number of exotic destinations in the cause of New Zealand cricket. He played his only test in England in 1986 and has also represented New Zealand in the Nether-

lands, Sri Lanka, Sharjah, Hong Kong and Australia. Last summer Blain took his number of oneday internationals to 20. Mr Paterson also announced that Martin Sneddon had been appointed vice-captain in place of the injured Crowe. Richard Hadlee withdrew from consideration. The tour selectors will be the captain, Wright, vice-captain, Sneddon, and coach, Bob Cunis. New Zealand begins its first match against West Zone at Rajkot on November 1.