Andre Adams gets another chance

Andre Adams has been thrown a lifeline by John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, who has said that Adams still has an international future as long as he sorts out his attitude.

Adams, who turns 29 in a week, joined the New Zealand squad for the first time in 14 months yesterday after falling off the radar last season and not even being considered for New Zealand A. A perceived casual attitude, injuries and inconsistent performances meant that he was left off the list of 20 New Zealand contracted players in April.

Adams was summoned this week from Lancashire league cricket with Colne, to cover for injury niggles to Daryl Tuffey (thigh), Chris Cairns (ankle) and Jacob Oram (side) ahead of Saturday's NatWest Series final against West Indies at Lord's.

Bracewell said he was determined that Adams wouldn't be cast to the international scrap heap, and had organised a programme with the team's psychologist, Gilbert Enoka. "He's a talented athlete, and we won't give up on Andre," Bracewell said. "He's talented enough to play international cricket again, but you can't drift through life on talent alone.

"You've got to have discipline and professionalism, and a day in, day out attitude. You can't just turn it on like a light switch."

After returning home from a limited role in New Zealand's tri-series win in Sri Lanka last May, Adams admitted it all went downhill. "Last year was a really difficult season for me. I didn't do the things I wanted to do, got more and more frustrated and started taking it out on team-mates and anyone else around me," Adams told New Zealand Press Association, having brushed with officialdom several times in recent seasons after clashes with players and umpires. "I got frustrated with where I was going, which was nowhere fast."

He said he was stunned to get the call-up from Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, earlier this week, but admitted it got the pulse racing again. "You don't realise how much you want it till you get the phone call. I've been trying to tell myself it's OK, I don't really need it, but as soon as you hear Lindsay's voice at the end of the line, I was jumping out of my skin to get here."