CRICKET - Runs key to recall hopes

His twin brother is in England, there are offers from India and phone calls from England, but Northland cricketer James Marshall has eyes only on a season of cricket in New Zealand in the hope of a Black Caps recall.
Marshall left for Darwin, Australia, today as captain of the New Zealand A cricket team, a team that included his Northland and Northern Districts teammate Tim Southee.
And it looms as an important tour if Marshall wants to rekindle a Black Caps career that has been an on-again, off-again affair since he first played international cricket in 2004.
With his twin brother, Hamish, having opted out of a New Zealand contract to chase a professional career in England, there is a chance for James to stake a claim for a spot in the middle of the batting order.
At least that is how James sees it.
"I heard during the summer that there was an opportunity for me to be captain of this tour team which was nice to hear but then put some pressure on me to score some runs as well," Marshall said.
"But really that's what this tour is all about now, it is all about getting an opportunity to stake a claim for the Black Caps. There is a tour to South Africa, and Bangladesh are coming here, so there are some opportunities this summer to look forward to."
But even now Marshall is still not sure quite where the Black Caps selectors see him. He prefers to bat in the middle of the order but is also used as an opener at Northern Districts.
"Until I sit down with the (NZ A) coaches and have a yak about what their plans are I will not be clear about my role. Either way I have to score runs and play well to have an opportunity."
The NZ A tour to Darwin will see the Kiwis compete in the Emerging Players Tournament, in Maroochydore and Brisbane. The team will play seven one-day games and two Twenty20 games against Australia, South Africa and India.
"The tournament provides an opportunity for some players to prepare for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in September," New Zealand Cricket high performance manager Ric Charlesworth said.
"But more importantly, it offers us the opportunity to view a new group of players on the periphery of the national team.
"Several members of the NZ under-19 squad will join the team during this time to assist their preparation for the Under-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in February next year."
Marshall said the selection of Southee and four other New Zealand under-19 players has added an extra dimension to the tour.
"This is a full tour which will be a first for Tim and a chance for him to get alongside some pretty experienced players and learn a bit about coping with the demands. The wickets are pretty flat in Darwin so he will learn a lot," Marshall said.
"But then again it is not as if Tim is an unknown player these days; he will do well on this tour and has a real chance to stake his claim as well."
Marshall said the NZ A tour will be a nice lead-in to the domestic season where he will captain the ND side trying to defend the State Shield this coming summer.
"It is something to really focus on and look forward to. We (ND) got a taste of winning and we want to build on that."