England praying over Cork

THE condition of Dominic Cork's facet joint dominates conversation like a scandal in this country. "Welcome to Na Zillun," said the man with kneesocks (there are an awful lot of men wearing kneesocks in New Zealand), "and do you think Cork will play on Friday?"

Everyone was asking the same question yesterday on the outer oval, beside Auckland's oddly shaped Eden Park, where the first Test starts tomorrow. Reporters, huddled like mourners, asked the captain, the manager, the physio and even Cork about the lower back problem which threatens to wreck his return to the England side.

The consistent, and sincere answer was: "I don't know." This is the sort of reply journalists hate, but no one will know until this afternoon, when the fast medium swing bowler has a net practice.

He did not bowl yesterday, but last night, at a reception to launch the series, there was a growing, fragile optimism among the players that he could be fit, just a couple of days after it was feared he might be out of the tour.

Cork, who has made the Kookaburra ball swing consistently so far, said: "It feels easier today and I'm very keen to play. After missing out on Zimbabwe, I'm more desperate than ever to play in these Tests."

After the disasters of Zimbabwe the welcome given to Cork on his arrival here was rather like that given to the Australian rescue services by the stranded sailor Tony Bullimore. The Chatham Islands, a few miles east of here, is where the sun rises on the world, and Cork is badly needed when the talk is of a brave new dawn for English cricket; there have been a few too many brave new dusks in recent years.

Coach David Lloyd said yesterday: "We might have to rethink the balance of the side depending on Dominic's fitness. It would be nice if he could play, but we are unlikely to decide until Friday morning."

If Cork plays, he is likely to be supported by Darren Gough, Alan Mullally and Craig White, plus one spinner, probably Philip Tufnell, although Robert Croft would benefit by the rough created outside the right hander's off stump by Mullally. Chris Silverwood is the favourite to play in place of Cork.

The final selection is complicated by the unpredictable nature of the Auckland pitch. Traditionally a slow seamer, it was Ireland last year and is now thought to be the surface most likely to produce a result in this series.

If England do not play well against New Zealand the stink will rival the sulphurous, bubbling bogs of Rotorua, just up the road. The Kiwis, arguably, are the weakest of the Test playing countries. Their best batsmen, Stephen Fleming, has yet to make a Test hundred. Their opening batsman, Blair Pocock, has an average of 11, and his last five Tests have yielded 10/2, 16/0, 0/10, 0/11 and 9/15. They do not have a single spinner of county class. Their final choice will be between a second spinner and the all rounder, Justin Vaughan.

England have the better cricketers, but that was also the case in Zimbabwe. It is difficult to see England not winning the series, but New Zealand, who beat Pakistan in Lahore in November, have a habit of playing above themselves, and in Simon Doull, Danny Morrison and Chris Cairns have an attack good enough to bowl out England cheaply in favourable conditions.

Lee Germon, their boyish captain, warned yesterday: "Previous New Zealand teams have been guilty of going out there looking to draw, and maybe pinching a victory. But there is a lot of confidence in this side now and we're going for the win."

Lloyd said yesterday: "I took some film of Doull bowling the other day. In his delivery he reminds me a bit of Philip Newport. In his run up, he reminds me of a combination of Gladstone Small and Merv Hughes.