CRICKET - Reunion of players a first class affair

Despite the gloomy weather reports, there's a very good chance that there will be something of a crowd at a first-class occasion at Cobham Oval on Sunday.
Former Northland test player and current Black Caps' cricket selector Dion Nash will be the guest of honour as former Northland players meet up for a reunion of sorts at the Spire Pavilion.
Northland Cricket CEO Gary Bell said Murray Child, Brian Johnson and Barry Cooper came up with the idea at one of the recent State 50-over matches.
"They thought we should try and get former players back together and we've gone through the databases of past players and sent invitations to as many people as we could find and we've had more than 100 replies in the affirmative," Bell said.
A luncheon plus an address by Nash will kick the event off.
Bell hoped the reunion would be the start of an annual function to coincide with a first class match and he is confident that amount of top level cricket the Whangarei ground has hosted this year will continue.
Over the past two years, the venue has hosted one or two State Shield 50-over matches but this year's programme has been a definite step-up. There have been three State Shield matches as well two State Championship first class matches scheduled there.
There were also two women's one-day internationals and three women's State League matches as well as Northland matches and club games on a wicket block that has been well used this season.
"It's a been a very full schedule, we've had about the same sort of schedule as [Hamilton's] Seddon Park has, so our block has been well and truly used this season which is want we want," Bell said.
"I think we can look forward to a robust schedule every year because Seddon Park is a preferred international venue now."