CRICKET - Northland skipper aims to hold ND spot

Northland cricket captain Brad Wilson is hoping that national recognition - in the form of a call-up to the New Zealand Emerging Players side - may be the impetus he needs to break into the Northern Districts side on a more permanent basis.
Wilson first played for Northern Districts as a talented teenager in the 2004-5 season and has showed plenty of promise but wants to prove he is more than a fringe player for the province.
"Yeah, I've really been struggling to cement my place in the side, so hopefully this is a first step towards trying to achieve that sort of goal," he said.
The Kaipara Flats opener was named yesterday in the New Zealand Emerging Players team for the first of two two-day games against England A, on February 22-23 at Lincoln.
Wilson, who was a contracted player for ND last season but missed out this year, gave the New Zealand selectors little choice with a great run of scores at the New Zealand second XI tournament in Christchurch recently. The 23-year-old ran riot, scoring two centuries and averaging almost 71 for the tournament.
The Lincoln-based tournament was under way at the same time that the Knights were winning the State Shield - a factor not lost on Wilson.
"It's very hard to break into a team that's winning, all the guys in the side were playing well ..."
A foot injury to captain James Marshall means that Wilson has now been elevated into the squad.
"His injury has opened up an opportunity for me, and that makes it all the more important to grab it," he said.
He is a likely starter against Otago in Dunedin tomorrow. Hamilton fast bowler Te Ahu Davis was also recalled into the Northern Districts side for the
first time in two seasons for the Otago trip. Davis, a former New Zealand under-19 representative, has been away from cricket for the best part of two seasons, first with a major knee injury and then while pursuing a rugby career.
Davis was another player selected in the New Zealand Emerging Players side.
"I think they picked that side from guys that aren't playing in the Twenty20 competition but, in saying that, the Black Caps are back soon so that may see me available again," Wilson said.
Given the option Wilson would rather stay with the Knights for the rest of their Twenty20 campaign.
"I'm not that suited to the shortest form of the game but it's definitely something that I've been trying to develop more because you've got to be able to play it these days because it seems like that's where the game is going and that makes it crucial," he said.
"Staying with ND would obviously be the way to go because I see a future with them."
Despite a poor start to the competition, the side remained upbeat, Wilson said.
"That's the nature of the game, it can be pretty hit-and-miss and the boys are all pretty positive and looking forward to posting a few wins," he said.
With Marshall injured and wicketkeeper-batsman Peter McGlashan in Australia, Michael Parlane will captain the side against Otago, with BJ Watling the stand-in wicket-keeper.
ND travelling squad is: Michael Parlane (c), Hamish Marshall, Brad Wilson, Joseph Yovich (Northland), Graeme Aldridge, Daniel Flynn, Kane Williamson (Bay of Plenty), Brent Arnel, Te Ahu Davis, Bruce Martin, Bradley Scott, BJ Watling.