Another crocked bowler to add to the list - Geoff Allot. The 'why do so many of our bowlers break down?' fills papers and talkback radio everytime rugby dissapears for more than two weeks. I don't think anyone has a decent explaination (bar perhaps some kind of genetic weakness . . .). It's more of a mystery considering that one RJ Hadlee kept himself largely injury free for his career (including playing county cricket in the 'off' season).

I might've read the same article as you - but apparently Butler's phone has been ringing away with offers to play in England this winter. I'm not sure of the rules - he's got a UK passport, does this mean he can play as an UK player? I guess it means he's a citizen and can vote, claim the dole, and play cricket.

I'm not sure about Spearman . . . it didn't take him long to play in the UK as 'Englishman' and play in NZ as an 'overseas player' and has since declared himself unavailable for NZ duty - now he's saying he wants to play for England!

I guess that's the one reassuring thing about the latest press around all this hooha; both Sinclair and Butler are both saying they want nothing more than to play for NZ again. They'll both get on the 'A' tour to somewhere later this year and are probably only a injury or two away from gaining a tempory contract on the Zim/SA tour so all is not lost - though they're still understandably gutted . . .