CRICKET - How's that for world-class!

Northland's new crop of visiting professionals have a distinctly exotic flavour that cricket officials say can only add to the game's revival here.
All but one of the cricket clubs competing in the Northland premier competition have acquired professionals and Northland Cricket CEO Gary Bell says the newcomers will take part in a co-ordinated coaching programme aimed at growing the game.
"We've got Cardiff covered with Owain Hopkins, Tauseef Satti is from Islamabad, Peter Morgan from Lincolnshire, Qasim Sheikh from Glascow, so that's not a bad mix - there's even the boy from Parua Bay, as well," Bell chuckles.
The association has now contracted six new coaches for the 2007-08 season. Four are from overseas while Onerahi's Harry Darkins and Kaipara's Jaz Stanton, both university students, have been drafted in to help staff the area's coaching programmes.
"In the past the clubs have brought their own pros in and we've utilised them for Northland as well ... but this year we're the ones who are driving it, funding them and administering it and we're using them for coaching as well," Bell said. "Our ultimate vision is to build up our base and have cricket flourishing throughout Northland."
The emphasis on coaching in the position struck a chord with Scottish international Shiekh. He had been planning to return to Queensland as an overseas player but heard of the Northland opportunity from former Kamo professional and fellow Scot Gordon Drummond.
"He thought it might suit me because I'm trying to better myself as a coach and build my coaching CV, so I thought I'd give it a go," he said.
The appeal of coaching juniors, in particular, appealed: "I enjoy coaching, especially young kids because you see masses of improvements whereas older players are harder to teach, they've already formed most of their techniques."
Shiekh was in South Africa recently playing in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.
"It's become probably bigger than the actual world cup, it was great to be out there amongst all these great players."
He is glad to get the chance to play the new form of the game here. Bell said the association had included more Twenty20 cricket into this year's programme.
"We're cashing in on the global Twenty20 phenomenon and I've already spoken to the secondary school's sports co-ordinators about incorporating that into the school's programme as well," the CEO said.
At Kensington and Tikipunga Parks tomorrow, 12 games of senior Twenty20 cricket are planned, with each team playing two matches, starting 12.30pm and 3.30pm.
* Top NZ umpire to point the finger
A few batsmen will sweating on LBW decisions tomorrow with top NZ umpire Tony Hill officiating at various Northland Twenty20 matches.
Hill is one of two Kiwi umpires on the International Cricket Council's panel and is in Whangarei as a guest of Northland cricket to promote, train and encourage people to umpire.
The Papakura-based umpire has recently returned from umpiring duties at the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup and went to the West Indies earlier in the year to umpire at the ODI World Cup.
Hill is the guest speaker at the Cobham Club's Spring Luncheon at the Kamo Club today. On Sunday at Cobham Oval starting 9.30am he will run training and introduction sessions - open to any existing or potential umpires.
Caption: Northland cricket coaches attending a planning session at Cobham Oval before beginning their work in schools are, from left, Qasim Sheikh (Kamo), Owain Hopkins (City),Peter Morgan (Bledisloe), Tauseef Satti (Kaipara Flats), Heather Deane (women's development officer), Karl Treiber (Coachforce officer).