The Dominion Post had an excellent two-page spread on the state of pace bowlers in NZ on Friday. I may post the full thing on CW if it beomes available online.
[Academy coach Dayle Hadlee] points to Nelson 21-year-old Richard Sherlock, who transferred over the winter from CD to Canterbury, and ND teenager Te Ahu Davis as exciting prospects.
"Sherlock reportedly hit speeds of 150kmh in South Africa [on last month's New Zealand A tour], that's got to be the quickest since Shane Bond and before that Gary Bartlett.".
"And there is Ian Butler. I liken him to in a lot of ways to Richard [Hadlee] at a similar age. He's young, rapid, and got a bit to learn.
"Butler is similar now to how Chris Cairns was on his first tour to Australia."
Millmow's summary....
A panel of experts met for the first time in Christchurch two weeks ago, among them were Richard Hadlee, Shane Bond, Simon Doull, Dayle Hadlee and Denis Aberhart. Much overdue was the inclusion of Richard Hadlee on that panel.
The greatest mystery in NZ over the last decade is not so much who potted in the dope smokers on the tour of SA in 1995 but why Hadlee has not been running his eye over every promising bowler in the land.
Speaking from experience, Hadlee is not the type to volunteer information. But when sought out and asked specifically on an issue he is a veritable fount of knowledge.
AUS have used Dennis Lillee to their advantage - NZ should have done likewise long ago with Hadlee. Things may be looking up.
