Cricket: Andrews joins Knights on contract

Cody Andrews

The recent tidal pull of 2015-16 domestic contracts for the Northern Knights may have swept Kaipara Flats cricketer Brad Wilson down to Otago, but the reciprocating surge has washed Maungakaramea's Cody Andrews into the mix for the coming season.

Hailing from Gisborne but a Northland resident since 2010, Andrews received his first contract offer from the Knights after selectors noted his potential as a strike bowler for the franchise.

"I've always been there or thereabouts the last two or three years, it was just a matter of me getting a little bit fitter, stronger and more consistent to be able to play at that higher level," Andrews said.

"I sort of struggled a wee bit with consistency but I'm starting to get a bit of that now - there's still a lot of room to improve."

A seam bowler, 27-year-old Andrews has been pushing his pace toward the 135-140km/h mark.

Although he's honed in on his bowling the last few seasons, he admits he'd like to become just as capable with the bat as he is with the ball.

"I'm more of a bowler, batting is a work in progress you might say. In club stuff I had a couple of good innings last year for Northland but I'm more of a bowler. In my younger days I was more of a batter. Hopefully, down the track with a bit more work, I'll try to fit in as an all-rounder."

Northland Cricket Association operations manager Stephen Cunis has watched Andrews progress as a player over the past few seasons and said he had potential to be lethal as a strike bowler.

"A good thing about him is the first ball of his first spell is as good as his last of the last spell," Cunis said. "He's grown a lot on and off the park. I think he's definitely a strike weapon, he bowls a good, heavy pace."

The contracting period for the season is likely to be moved to run from September 24, 2015, to April 8, 2016. Domestic schedules are expected to be announced by the end of August.

-Northland's Northern Districts squad members for 2015-16:

Primary and Junior Secondary Schoolboys: Kian Bird, Luke Trigg, Billy Alexander- Crawford, Sam Webb, Nathan Parkes, Max Turner, Kurt Oldridge.

Secondary Schoolgirls: Jess Pilmer, Jade Litchfield, Paige Golightly, Brooke Golightly, Olivia Lobb, Tia Saunders, Kennedy Boswell-Smith.

Senior Secondary Schoolboys: Matt Lobb, Chamodh Peiris, Lewie Miller, Caleb Boswell-Smith, Dante Mitchell, Sean Beamish, Hamish Kidd, Sean West, Cullen Lowe.

Women: Olivia Lobb, Paige Golightly, Brooke Golightly, Tia Saunders.

Men: Cody Andrews, Rory Christopherson, Henry Cooper, Brad Kneebone, Ben Hyde, Tyler Lortan, Kurtley Watson, Dave Armitt, Nick Stobart.