Absentees leave coaches in a pickle

Cricket

He [Jarvis] put his hand up and did well, he certainly did enough to warrant being given another go.Sam Curtis, selector Wairarapa have been decimated by injury and unavailabilities as they prepare for their Hawke Cup qualifying round cricket match with Taranaki in New Plymouth on Saturday and Sunday.

Five players who would under normal circumstances be almost sure of selection - Jon Wells, Sam Curtis, Harry Clinton-Baker, George Deans and Tony Russo - won't be fronting on this occasion.

Wells has gone back to England, Curtis has an injured finger, Clinton-Baker and Deans are involved in the Rathkeale College break-up and Russo has a prior commitment in his other sporting pursuit, golf.

Clinton-Baker and Russo were the shining lights with the bat when Wairarapa were beaten by Wellington City in a Tararua Shield limited-overs match played at Kilbirnie Park in Wellington last weekend.

Wairarapa were all out for 171 with Clinton Baker 36 not out and Russo, who was having his first game for Wairarapa, making 20.

Two of the more experienced batsmen in the Wairarapa squad, Tim Lucas and Joe Hull, were missing from that game and the good news for selectors Sam Curtis and Brian James is that they are available for this weekend.

Lucas seems sure to slot into his usual role of opener but with the promising Deans not playing, just who will join him is open to debate.

One of the leading contenders will be a player better known for his prowess as a medium pace bowler, Sean Jarvis. He was tried there in Lucas' absence against Wellington City and his 36-run partnership with Deans was the best of the innings.

In previous appearances for Wairarapa, Jarvis had mostly batted at No10 or 11 but Curtis was impressed with his willingness to open and the skills he displayed.

"He put his hand up and did well, he certainly did enough to warrant being given another go," Curtis said of the Jarvis performance.

If Lucas and Jarvis open, the likelihood is that Henry Cameron will be at No3, Hull at No4 and Alex Treseder at No5.

The No6 spot could well be filled by allrounder Harry Greenwood, whose solid efforts on the club scene could be rewarded with his first senior provincial cap.

Other batsmen whose good club form has them in the reckoning for selection are Chris Wenden, Gordon Reisima and Jock Cameron and if one of the finds from last season, allrounder Ben Foster, has recovered from injury, he would also have to be a strong possibility.

Curtis and James will name their side this morning.