CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

London -- New Zealand World Cup star Geoff Allott may be struggling to regain full fitness in time for the fourth and final cricket test against England, starting at The Oval on Thursday.

Allott had to leave the field for treatment on the second day of the tour match against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday with a recurring back strain.

It will be decided today whether he should bowl again in this match or be rested for a couple of days to build up for the crucial test in London with the series locked at 1-1.

The other scenario could mean that Allott, the joint top wicket-taker in the World Cup earlier this summer, could miss his second successive test. He was left out of the drawn third test because of a slight leg injury and replaced by all-rounder Chris Harris.

Essex ended the second day firmly on top at 281 for five in its first innings in response to the tourists' 236, the first time New Zealand has trailed on the first innings against a county side on this tour.

However, the Black Caps remain determined to become the first New Zealand touring side not to lose a first-class match against any of the counties.

Before the first test New Zealand had wins over British Universities and Somerset, and later had the better of draws against Hampshire and Kent and an emphatic win over reigning county champion Leicestershire.

Since the rain-affected third test draw at Manchester, New Zealand has lost a one-dayer to Middlesex and is struggling to get the better of an Essex side without England captain Nasser Hussain, test spinner Peter Such, former Australian batsman Stuart Law and former England bowler Mark Ilott.

Essex resumed yesterday morning on nine for one and New Zealand appeared to have taken charge at lunch with Essex stumbling to 98 for five.

However, an unbroken 183-run sixth wicket stand between Darren Robinson, who finished the day on 111 not out, and Stephen Peters, unbeaten on 94, ran the New Zealand attack into the ground.

Robinson had a county average of 17 and Peters 23 last season. Robinson was dropped from the Essex squad last month, but managed 15 boundaries against the New Zealand attack yesterday.

New Zealand coach Steve Rixon said the Essex pair deserved credit for batting well in perfect conditions after lunch.

``The pitch flattened out and any life in it was killed by the heavy roller so it should be a good batting track from now on.

``Our seamers bowled well. Geoff Allott had good shape in his early spell but he did not finish the game out with his back again which is extremely disappointing.''

Swing bowler Shayne O'Connor bowled solidly and had the ball moving about in the air.

Were Allott unfit for the fourth test, O'Connor is likely to get a test recall.

The Otago left-armer has so far taken 19 wickets in seven tests, and his best return on this tour was a six-wicket bag against Leicestershire a fortnight ago.