CRICKET - Everyone's jostling to rub shoulders with selector

After many years of playing in, coaching and managing cricket teams, Heather Deane has finally worked out the attraction of being a selector.
Northland Cricket's women's development officer was given the job of Northern Districts secondary school coach this season and told to select a team from the ND tournament at Mountford Park in Manurewa last week.
She was a bit nervous about possibly having to deal with parents, disappointed their children weren't selected in the squad and was relieved when the situation never eventuated.
"There wasn't a single one but let me just say that people are friendlier all of a sudden, it's a different world being a selector, everybody seems to know you and if they don't, they want to know you," she said.
Despite her instant upgrade in the popularity stakes, Deane enjoyed selecting the team. Then came the preparation for the team's short representative programme - two successful Twenty20 games against Auckland - and a few days' coaching after that.
"It was a busy week with the team but a great experience for me because I've never selected a team before, so that made it a bit more special," she said.
Part of her new role is talent spotting for Northern Spirit coach Cliff Dickinson.
"I'll start working a little bit closer with Cliff now and getting in his ear about some of the talented girls in the area," she said.
Deane is a fulltime employee of Northland cricket in charge of developing the women's game here.
This weekend is a big one for her as the Northern Spirit - the Northern Districts women's side - play their first match in Whangarei since the new oval was completed. "It's particularly good for me because Whangarei's Emily Bailey has been selected in the side," she said.
The amiable administrator played for Northern Districts herself in 1996 and 1997 - at the under-23 level - before they even had a senior side at the association and is a passionate believer in the sport.
Northern Districts and the Auckland Hearts are both winless after two rounds and face off to try and stay off the bottom of the table. Auckland are without captain Paula Gruber who was suspended for three playing days after swearing at an umpire during Auckland's loss against Canterbury in Christchurch on January 4.
The Northern Spirit are looking to press home their advantage over Auckland this weekend. They are fifth in the State League 50-over competition and fourth in the Twenty20 competition.
There are three matches at Cobham Oval this weekend. A Twenty20 match, starting this evening at 4pm, kicks things off with 50-over matches on Saturday and Sunday starting at 11am.