Yovich backs Knights to win

Northland's Joseph Yovich says the Northern Knights will be the team to beat in this season's domestic Twenty20 competition, the HRV Cup which begins on Sunday.

"We will have an influx of Black Caps who have been performing and are available, including Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. It's going to mean a lot of good players get left out of the line-up. It also means players will be under pressure to perform to be selected.

"The T20 side will be captained by Scott Styris, who has a huge amount of experience ... this side could win the HRV Cup - we just have to start well and take the opportunities when they come," Yovich said.

This week, the Knights all-rounder was back managing CLM's Whangarei Aquatic Centre's gym after several weeks away from the job fulfilling ND duties.

He lined up for the first four Plunket Shield matches and was pleased with how the team was travelling to date - the Knights lead the four-day competition, which resumes on February 17 when they play the Central Stags.

"We played some good cricket considering how we went in our first match against Auckland [Auckland won by 19 runs]. We came back nicely and now we're leading the competition and playing a good brand of cricket which is pleasing," Yovich said.

He was also pretty happy with his own first class cricket form, and his highest score of 50 runs [against Auckland].

"I was given the challenge to open the batting [with Northland's Brad Wilson], which was refreshing. I have made a couple of solid starts but it would be nice to turn some of those starts into big scores."

The season has not all gone to plan for Yovich, who turned 35 yesterday .

During the last day of play in the final Plunket Shield match this year against Canterbury, he was fielding in close to the wicket and was hit on the head with the ball.

"I was wearing a helmet but it flicked up under it. That evening, I wasn't feeling well and luckily the team didn't have to play the next day."

After tests at the hospital, it was established Yovich was concussed and he was forced to stand down for the next two games. He missed two one dayers against Canterbury (rained off) and the clash with Auckland.

Yovich made himself available and was selected to play in the 50-over game against Central Stags last Sunday, but was not needed for Wednesday's game against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

The Knights were winless in the Ford Trophy competition, until they won by 27 runs under the Duckworth Lewis system on Wednesday. "The team brought some of the new guys in for Wednesday and I was not required which gave me some time to come back home and get to work.

"The Knights haven't started the one-dayers so well, so we are on the backfoot in this competition. We're now in the situation where we have to win the rest of our games to get through to the finals," he said.

Yovich admitted he did not think he would have much involvement in the HRV Cup with the return of Black Caps players but he was hopeful of returning during the new year - if not before.

After the team's lack of success in all three competitions last season - falling short of the final in the semis during the 50-over competition, underperforming in the T20 and losing their way in the Plunket Shield, Yovich said he was also hopeful the team could at least secure some silverware for the trophy cabinet this season.

The Knights play Canterbury Wizards, in round one of the HRV Cup at Rangiora's MainPower Oval, from 2pm on Sunday.