Cricket: Beard back with remodelled action

Eleven months ago Otago spinner Nick Beard did not know whether he had a future in the sport.

His action had been reported and he decided to pop across to Australia to have it accessed and got the worst possible news - he was bending his elbow too much.

He took the rest of the summer off to remodel his action and got the green light in May.

Since then he has been plotting his return and his performance yesterday during a warm-up game against Canterbury in Rangiora would have given him a huge boost.

He took five for 105 from 25 overs. Canterbury scored 340 for 14 during the day.

Cole McConchie top-scored with 60 and featured in a good partnership with Andrew Ellis (54). The pair added 88 for the fifth wicket after Canterbury had slumped to 53 for four.

Matt Henry batted well down the order, adding 52. But the day belonged to Beard, Otago coach Nathan King said.

''I think it is a pretty special story with what Nick has gone through,'' he said.

''He got the opportunity to bowl a lot of overs. There was some rust to iron out but he did some really good things.

''He generated flight, dip and got the ball to turn at times, which is all really promising, considering where he has come from.''

And as for his action, well, ''there was absolutely no issues whatsoever''.

''The exciting thing about this new bowling action is he can do things now he was not previously able to.''

Beard's natural pace has decreased but King said that allowed him to generate more flight and turn from the wicket.

Left-armer Bradley Scott's injured hand was worse than first thought.

He bowled in the morning and picked up two wickets.

But he had an X-ray in the afternoon which revealed a fractured bone in his right hand and he will now miss Otago's opening two Plunket Shield games later this month.

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