Date-stamped : 10 Nov94 - 10:27
Rutherford admits to relief over absence of Donald

New Zealand captain Ken Rutherford admitted the absence of  South
African fast bowler Allan Donald from the forthcoming three-match
test series between the two countries was a ''pleasant relief.''

Donald has had an operation to remove a cyst from his right  foot
and  will be in plaster until November 14.  He is not expected to
return to international duty until South Africa meet Pakistan  in
a one-off test starting on January 19.

Rutherford, speaking on the New Zealanders' arrival in  Johannes-
burg  on  Friday, said his side may be able to exploit changes in
the South African management which have seen coach  Mike  Procter
replaced by Bob Woolmer and captain Kepler Wessels stand down.

"They are going through some trouble at  the  moment  with  their
team  management  structure  and  maybe  that's something that we
might be able to take advantage of," he said.  "There may be some
rumblings behind the scenes."

The New Zealanders are making their first tour  of  South  Africa
since  John  Reid's 1961-62 side drew a test series 2-2.  As well
as the three tests, New Zealand will play in the  Mandela  Trophy
--  a  one-day  international  tournament which will also involve
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The New Zealanders have come to South Africa straight from a tri-
angular  one-day series in India where they lost three out of the
four games they played.  The other match was abandoned.

Two key players, fast bowler Danny Morrison and all-rounder Chris
Cairns,  have  been kept out of the tour through injury while ex-
perienced batsman Mark Greatbatch was left out because of lack of
form.

"Twelve months ago we had a very different side but players  have
been  integrated  over  the  year.  All the guys here, except for
newcomers (Lee) Germon and (Darrin) Murray, have sampled, in some
respect,  playing  for  New  Zealand.  So they do have an idea of
what is required at test and one-day international  level,"  said
Rutherford.

New Zealand's opening game is  a  one-day  friendly  against  the
Nicky Oppenheimer X1 on Wednesday.

Tour  party:  Ken  Rutherford  (captain),  Martin  Crowe   (vice-
captain),  Richard  de  Groen,  Simon Doull, Stephen Fleming, Lee
Germon, Chris Harris, Matthew Hart, Blair Hartland,  Darrin  Mur-
ray,  Dion  Nash,  Adam Parore, Chris Pringle, Murphy Su'a, Shane
Thomson, Bryan Young. Coach: Geoff Howarth.

Thanks  ::  Reuters
<END> Contributed by Vicky (vigneswa@risky.ecs.umass.edu)