Cairns... and able

He was so good as a schoolboy that he only managed twice to play with youngsters his age. As a teenager, Chris and Lance would play senior club cricket together in the Bay of Plenty, where on one famous occasion Lance took five wickets for six runs while Christopher took five for 10.

As an all-rounder, Chris is invaluable to the Kiwis. His Test average of 34 with the bat and 29 with the ball would make him a certainty in any side. But in a Kiwi squad that lacks any real stars, he is one player who can turn the game at any instant.

His bowling is no longer express but his slower ball is among the best in the world and has seen him take important wickets for the Kiwis.

Your views | Send this page