Shayne O'Connor is back.

He told CricInfo today at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, "It's a bit of a fairytale comeback really."

After a eight-week lay off with a patella tendon knee injury, the Otago left-arm quick took 4-22 off 12 overs with five maidens on his return to action at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln tday.

Just 20 kms from the Test match at Jade Stadium, O'Connor looked in top form for a return to Test match action after an injury-ruined season.

New Zealand Selection XI Coach Ashley Ross commented that "he just needs to get through some work - that's all."

Watching chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee told CricInfo, "He needs to back up what he's done today, not just tomorrow, but the next day. But he's done alright hasn't he? He's swinging it a wee bit."

O'Connor himself was even more circumspect. Pre-match the 27 year old had stated, "the lack of match preparation is my concern. I'll have to push the knee a bit harder than I have so far, but if it is anything less than 100% I won't make myself available for the final Test."

"Hopefully I can go on to bigger and better things from here. Pakistan are definitely a strong batting side. In Hamilton the ball tends to swing if you get it in the right areas. The Pakistanis tend to not move their feet a lot and the swinging ball can help put the pressure on with that style of play."

In two morning spells, of six and then five overs, O'Connor proved his form, if not his fitness. He tested all the Central District batsmen, characteristically angling the ball across, and gaining two-way movement to have both right-hander David Kelly and left-hander Glen Sulzberger lbw. Greg Todd was caught first ball off one that left him.

"It didn't swing a lot early on, and I was a wee bit naughty in not pitching it up enough. I was afraid of getting driven and wanted to build some confidence," he remarked.

O'Connor planned for 16 overs today, but asked Chris Gaffaney if he could come back before the new ball was taken. He said he was keen to bowl in the middle session for "my piece of mind. The more overs I get under my belt the more confidence I feel. I could have bowled a lot more."

The Stags' top scorer, Michael Baumgart (44), a scholarship student at Lincoln University, was dismissed by an inducker from the third ball of O'Connor's afternoon spell from the Southern End of the ground.

So, with precautionary icepack on his right knee, the friendly O'Connor concluded that, "if selected," he's "in with a chance" for next week's Test.

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