Geoff Longley: Germon uncertain on role (29 Aug 1997)

August 29, 1997

Germon uncertain on role

by Geoff Longley

Deposed New Zealand cricket captain Lee Germon is available for Conference Cricket as he is still on contract to NZC.

However, Germon intends clarifying the situation with NZC as the two-year contract was signed when he was New Zealand captain, a role which was unceremoniously terminated after the England series during last season.

Germon said that under the contract he had to be available to play unless injury or mutual agreement ended the contract.

After his axing from the captaincy, but before Conference Cricket was introduced, he began work as marketing manager for the Bank of New Zealand in Christchurch.

Ironically, in his new job Germon deals with NZC officials, chief executive Christopher Doig and marketing director Neil Maxwell, as he is involved in the BNZ's sponsorship with NZC.

Germon was unclear about his business position from mid-November to mid-December when the newly-instituted Conference Cricket will be played.

"I'm not quite sure what my work commitments will be then," he said yesterday.

With Stephen Fleming having been appointed captain and Adam Parore reinstated as wicketkeeper-batsman it appears Germon's chances of regaining his New Zealand place are slim.

Yet the creed of Conference Cricket is to "expose the best players to intensive, quality competition and provide a career path for those most likely to achieve national honours".

Germon's Canterbury team-mate Mark Priest has stated his unavailability for the four-day games but is available for the southern side's one-day matches, which are being played on Sundays.

Priest, now the longest-serving first-class cricketer in New Zealand with the recent retirement of Dipak Patel, said he could not afford the time away from his electrical business for a concentrated month-long period shortly before Christmas.

"Of course I doubt whether I would be picked anyway," Priest said.

He has often been offside with New Zealand selection panels despite being the best performed domestic slow bowler for several seasons during the past decade.

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)