All-rounders' experience gives edge to Northland

Northland player-coach Ewen Thompson is hoping that the players named for the first Northland representative side named this season make the most of their opportunities against Counties-Manukau tomorrow.
With the first competitive game of the representative season just three weeks away, the Brian Dunning One-Day Tournament in Taupo, Thompson has opted for players with more than one talent.
"We've picked a team that is very all-rounder heavy with an eye on the one-day game, we've probably got seven options with the ball and we bat right down to 11 - so it's about taking an opportunity when you get one," he said.
There are few real surprises in the team, with the majority of players turning out last season. The selectors have awarded current form with eight of the 12 players from the Kaipara Flats or City clubs that have dominated the Twenty20 competition.
City professional Richard Atkins has been included in the side as its overseas professional. He is a right-arm seam bowler and middle-order batsman who has performed well in club competition.
All the other players selected were regulars in the Bellahomes Northland side last year, with the exception of Ben Williams and Thompson, who were playing in Bay of Plenty and Taranaki respectively. Rhys Farrand is another player who has been rewarded through a strong Twenty20 campaign.
But Thompson is clear that he and his fellow selectors Murray Child and Barry Cooper will make changes before the Brian Dunning tournament starts if players don't measure up.
"There's 12 guys who have been given the opportunity to get their noses ahead, to get selected for the tournament in Taupo in November and I'm sure that this is the nucleus of the team to go down but there has certainly been some very strong competition for places among the rest of the squad," he said.
He said players like Jamie Kaye, who is fit, strong and bowling well after recently returning from England, are pushing hard for opportunities to break into the playing eleven.
This weekend's match will be the first hit-out on a grass wicket after playing the Twenty20 competition on all-weather surfaces.
"It might be tough for the batsman but the bowlers haven't a hit-out on grass yet and I'd be surprised if a bowler just walked out and dominated," Thompson said.
He said Counties seem to be an association on the rise and should provide a good early season challenge as they bring up a talented young side.
"While we're not an elderly side by any means, we've picked guys in their late 20s and 30s, so we think we have an advantage in terms of experience and maturity," he said.
The 50-over match starts at 11am on Cobham Oval.
Northland: Brett Hood (captain), Jake Phillips (vc), Kevin Forde, Tauseef Satti, Brad Wilson (Kaipara Flats), Chris Page, Ian Page, Richard Atkins (City), Henry Cooper, Ben Williams (Whangarei Boys High School), Rhys Farrand (Kamo), Ewen Thompson (Maungakaramea).