Talented Wairarapa all-rounder Greg Todd was poised to make his cricket debut for Otago today against his former Central Districts team.
Otago manager and assistant coach Mike Hesson said yesterday that depending on conditions Todd was "likely" to play for Otago in their opening State Championship match at the Queenstown Event Centre.
Todd, 22, has played 10 first-class games for Central Districts, averaging 22.23 with the bat and taking six wickets at 46.83 with his medium pace.
These are statistics Todd would like to improve for Otago.
"I was out practically all of last season with a recurring side strain so I just want to get out there and get some runs and wickets,' he said.
Todd was lured to Otago by the prospect of more game time and while he has been involved with the Otago side for just a couple of months he has enjoyed the competitive environment.
"Everyone trains together whereas when I played for Central Districts we trained separately," he said. "You can see how everyone else is going and there is a lot of competition between each other."
Todd rates the Central Districts bowling attack highly, especially Michael Mason and Lance Hamilton, but felt confident about Otago's chances.
He said he was not expecting much flank from his former teammates. "We played them in a practice game and they didn't sledge me but we will have to wait and see," he said.
Meanwhile, Wairarapa picked up three points from their drawn Hawke Cup qualifying match with Hawke's Bay at Masterton over the weekend, a disappointing outcome considering they had their opposition on the ropes when Sunday's play was washed out. Wairarapa made 255 in their first innings and had the Bay reeling at 103-7 in their reply.
The Wanganui v Manawatu game was also drawn after rain intervened while Nelson scored a first innings win over Taranaki and Horowhenua-Kapiti likewise over Marlborough.
The poins table after round one is: Horowhenua-Kapiti 7, Nelson 7, Wanganui 3, Wairarapa 3, Hawke's Bay 3, Manawatu 3, Taranaki 1 and Marlborough.
Second round matches will be played this coming weekend with Wairarapa scheduled to meet Marlborough at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton.
The draw for the Central Districts Cricket Association's Chapple Cup and Cave Cup one-day competitions at Victoria Park,Wanganui on December 18 and 19 was announced yesterday.
The December 18 Cave Cup draw sees Wairarapa playing Marlborough and Horowhenua-Kapiti playing Wanganui with the winners of those games to meet in the final the following day.
The first round draw for the Chapple Cup is Hawke's Bay v Nelson and Manawatu v Taranaki.
The club team to represent Central Districts at the national club championships in Auckland later in the season will come from the district that wins the Chapple Cup.
At the conclusion of play at the Wanganui tourney the State Central Stags team to play Sri Lanka in New Plymouth on December 21 will be named as will the Central Districts A team to play in their national tourney at Lincoln in Christchurch from January 2 to 13.
Todd to step out for Otago
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