Cricket: Bay duo's selection sign of progress

Kurt Richards.

The selection of two Hawke Cup seamers for first-class duties offers immense satisfaction to Hawke's Bay senior men's representative coach Colin Schaw.

"It shows you're always in the frame if you're performing," Schaw said last night after CD selectors named Kurt Richards (Havelock North) and Liam Dudding (Cornwall) in the mix for the Stags v Wellington Firebirds four-day Plunket Shield match at McLean Park, Napier, from tomorrow.

Liam Dudding.

"That seldom ever used to happen," he said, delighted that fringe players were given a taste of a higher level of cricket before the Bay challenge North Otago for the Hawke Cup in Oamaru from February 26.

Manawatu top-order batsman Mitchell Renwick also comes into the CD team for the first time, replacing opener Dean Robinson.

CD A rep Richards, if picked, will play for the first time since his debut match in the 2007-08 season, while Dudding will make his debut.

"Dudd's doing a lot with the ball whereas Kurt is more of a bounce bowler so if the pitch has a greenish tinge at McLean Park it'll suit Dudds," Schaw said as CD battle a paucity of first-class seamers through injuries and unavailability.

The Bay coach felt the selection of his players throughout this summer also was a testimony to how good the provincial template was in bringing young talent through the premier club structure.