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| | Tuesday, 12 December, 2000, 20:18 GMT Kiwi young guns make grade  BBC Sport Online's Sean Martin assesses the performance of New Zealand's novice Test players thrust into action in South Africa after an injury crisis. In the early 1990s New Zealand Cricket, keen to attract supporters, launched a marketing campaign to boost the profile of the national side. They were to be called the Young Guns. The slogan and images of the side were splashed across television advertisements, billboards and in magazines. The only problem was that the majority of the side were aged over 30, some girths had suffered middle-aged spread and pates that were fast approaching the need for a comb-over.
After injuries had cut a swathe through the side like a tornado in the American mid-West, novices were thrust into the international limelight. New Zealand, with a dearth of player resources compared to other international sides, had to find replacements for Matthew Horne, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Geoff Allott and Scott Styris. Even a late call-up, Andrew Penn, had to cry off with injury before landing in South Africa. Shorn of their first, and second, choice bowling attacks they had to search the cupboard for replacements.
Before the side was plagued by injury they had achieved success - winning the ICC Trophy in Kenya and a Test series triumph in Zimbabwe. The batting line-up was largely unaffected by the injury crisis - opener Mark Richardson - fresh from making 99 in his second Test had already cemented his place in the side. Maturity beyond years But the bowling attack faced the biggest test. Shayne O'Connor, a 'veteran' of 14 Tests was entrusted with leading the attack and revelled in the responsibility. His line has been impeccable and has invariably made an early breakthrough with the new ball to give the team hope. His has also showed a willingness to stick around with the bat and shared in valuable partnerships after the continuing failure of the top order. The emergence of the 26-year-old Martin, likened by some to a raw Glenn McGrath, has been pleasing. His ability to extract sideways movement and awkward bounce has troubled the best South African batsmen and helped him claim 11 wickets in the series.
Walker's stubborn resistance with the bat has earned him plaudits, but the seamer-friendly surfaces did not really help the 23-year-old's leg-spin. Hamish Marshall, the former New Zealand Young Cricketer to Lord's, displayed a maturity that belied his 21 years to make an unbeaten 40 on his Test debut and looks to have a solid future, perhaps at the top of the order. Aside from the emergence of Richardson and Mathew Sinclair's 150 in the second Test, New Zealand's experienced top order failed to deliver on a consistent basis. They succeeded on numerous occasions in getting starts, but failed to go on with the job. If they could only apply themselves as well as the newcomers did, New Zealand Cricket would be in even better heart. | | See also:  Other top Cricket stories: Links to top Cricket stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||
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