Here come the Indians

When the words "Indian cricket team" are heard, most people will think Sachin Tendulkar. This weekend, Whangarei could be seeing the next "Little Master"' for free as the Cobham Oval hosts a touring Indian cricket team.

Mumbai's Gareware Cricket Club will play two matches with the first fixture taking place tomorrow at 2pm.

The game will be a Twenty20 match which will see a number of past Northland cricketing greats return to the oval as part of the Cobham Cricket Club XI. Monday's fixture will be a 40-over contest between a Northland Invitation XI and the touring cricketers.

The chairman of the Cobham Cricket Club, Brett Hood, said these matches were a good opportunity for past and present players to either reconnect or stay in touch with the club.

"It will be an opportunity for past players and supporters to reconnect with old friends, to see past players like Barry Cooper in action [on Sunday], and to showcase the cream of Northland's youth cricketers [on Monday]," said Hood.

"Two of the core objectives of the Cobham Cricket Club are to encourage past players to stay connected with the game, and to support youth cricket in Northland. These matches against Gareware tick both of these boxes.

"In Cobham Oval, we have a cricket ground which is of an international standard and, through our association with Northland Cricket, we are fortunate to be able to host these matches at such a high-quality venue."

Both matches will have free entry.

The teams for tomorrow and Monday are:

Cobham Cricket Club XI: Barry Cooper (c), Dean Potter, Brett Hood, Daniel Robinson, Darron Goodwin, Ross Kneebone, Todd Skudder, Rhys Farrand, Rocket Turner, Dean Child, Bert Horner, Richard Johnson.

Northland Invitation XI: Ben Hyde (c), Henry Cooper, Tom Herman. Cody Andrews, Brad Kneebone, Harry Darkins, Kieran Neilson, Jamie Morgan, Richie MacPherson, Dylan Clarke, Bert Horner, Chamodh Peiris.