Cricket: T20s to kick off season

Onerahi Central batsman Dewayne Bowden will be keeping a close eye on Maungakaramea bowler Kurtley Watson during their Twenty20 encounter this Saturday, which marks the start of the premier season. Photo / John Stone

Club cricket will be greeted with sighs of relief and groans of disappointment by players and their partners as the premier grades return to the pitch for summer.

With daylight saving having arrived players will hit the Bourne Dean Domain in Kaipara on Saturday for a crash and bash start to the season with a double-round of Twenty20s taking place.

Northland Cricket operations manager Stephen Cunis said players and coaches would be thankful for the season opener as a degree of "cabin fever" tends to take hold over winter.

"There has been a heck of a lot of work over the winter months," Cunis said. "Various winter cricketers [have been in-and-out for training] so it's good to see everyone and get rid of the cabin fever.

"The clubs themselves have been training for close to seven or eight weeks. [Some] clubs have been in [at Northland Cricket] and netting, doing all sorts of skill work.

"I'm just looking forward to getting out there in the sun and enjoying some cricket."

Cunis, who is also the Northland coach, said that no representative team had been selected even though the side kicks off its season next month.

"[Starting the season with Twenty20s] is a good chance for players to put their hands up. The Northland season doesn't start for another five weeks so there is a good amount of cricket left for people to force their way into the team.

"If guys play well, then it certainly will give them a good chance of being selected."

Cunis expected there to be a few heated encounters this weekend as old rivals come up against each other again.

Defending Twenty20 champions Kaipara Flats kick off their campaign against Kamo while one-day finalists Maungakaramea and Onerahi meet in Saturday's first round. Capping off the round is Whangarei Boys' High School and City.

The second round, also on Saturday at Kaipara, sees Onerahi take on Boys' High; Karamea and Kamo face-off; and Kaipara play City.

The men's reserve grade starts in two weeks' time with the men's third grade and all junior cricket. All teams except for the junior grades take a break from December 14 until January 11.

Junior cricket stops on December 21 and returns February 8.