Toss could play crucial role in Cup eliminator

The toss could play an important part in the outcome of the Hawke Cup elimination senior men's representative cricket match between Wairarapa and Wanganui to be played at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval, Masterton tomorrow and Saturday.
With the state of the pitch open to conjecture after the way it performed in club matches played over the last two weekends the team which bowls first could well find themselves with a winning advantage.
This is especially true in Wairarapa's case as they have an attack well equipped to make the most of a wicket which provides a variable bounce.
Seth Rance, Hayden Spierling, Dean van Deventer and Brock Price are all capable of utilising the new ball with telling effect and spinners Chad Yates, Aaron Wilson and skipper Sam Curtis will be in their element once the pitch starts to take turn.
With the state of the pitch open to conjecture after the way it performed in club matches played over the last two weekends the team which bowls first could well find themselves with a winning advantage.
It should be in Wairarapa's favour too that all of their bowlers are more than handy with the bat as well.
Yates and Curtis, for instance, have already scored centuries on the club scene while Rance, van Deventer and Price have all come close to it.
For Curtis, van Deventer and Yates this match is of special significance as it will signal Curtis's 50th appearance for Wairarapa and both van Deventer's and Yates' first at Hawke Cup level.
Curtis has the responsibility of not only skippering the side but of opening the batting and his performance in the latter role could also be crucial to the end result.
Because, as he says himself, his job will be to anchor their innings. So it follows that the more time he spends at the crease the better for his side.
That van Deventer is a huge talent is without question and Wairarapa will benefit hugely from his all-round skills. He will boost their strength in the middle order batting as well as give them some extra zip in their bowling.
Under the Hawke Cup rules Wairarapa are only able to play one member of the successful Academy club side and Yates is the one to be given the nod. Like van Deventer is a true all-rounder who will be expected to shine with bat and ball.
The actual position filled by van Deventer and Yates in the batting order will be interesting because there are a group of players who could be utilised anywhere between first drop and number nine.
Curtis and Daniel Stoneley will open but from there through to Hayden Spierling at 10 and, probably, Wilson at 11 it is anybody's guess who will be slotted in where.
Brief profiles of the Wairarapa side :
n SAM CURTIS (Wairarapa College) left-hand opening bat, right arm spin bowler and captain, 49 games for Wairarapa: Curtis has played 10 seasons of rep cricket for Wairarapa and scored his debut Hawke Cup century against Hawke's Bay last season. Back from a stint in the Wellington premier competition with Petone which saw him selected for a Wellington "A" trial team .He will be starting his 50th game for the province tomorrow. Favourite shot: Pull shot or dropkick over mid-wicket.
n SETH RANCE (Greytown) right handed batsman, pace bowler, 22 games: Rance has been a workhorse for the Wairarapa team for the past three to four seasons. He is a non-complicated player who can be devastating with both bat and ball. He took 6-52 with the ball and scored 88 not out with the bat against Nelson all on the same day last season. Rance must be a strong contender for Central Districts B selection this season: Favourite shot: Straight drive.
n DANIEL STONELEY (Red Star): right hand opening bat, right arm medium pace bowler, 6 games: Stoneley is an attacking opening batsman who has scored consistently at club level for the past two or three seasons. Still has to prove himself at rep level and this is his chance. Favourite shot: Square drive.
n CHAD YATES (Academy) right hand batsman, leg spin bowler, 0 games: Yates is an Englishman who has set tongues wagging on the club scene. He is a fine striker of the ball and bowls an exciting variety of leg spin deliveries. Such is his talent that Yates could well play at first-class level in England next season. Favourite shot: Punch drive.
n ROBBIE ANDERSON (Wairarapa College) left hand middle order bat, medium pace bowler, 2 games: Anderson is an exciting young prospect who has made a big impact on the club scene over the past two seasons. He has the shot making skills to become a standout batsman for his province and has to be a front runner for the Central Districts under-17s this season. Favourite shot: Cut.
n JEREMY ANDERSON (Greytown) left hand middle order batsman, leg spin bowler, 4 games: Anderson has displayed pleasing maturity in his handful of games for Wairarapa, twice seeing them home in tight situations with healthy not out scores. Favourite shot: Hook.
n JOE HULL (Red Star) right hand middle order bat, medium pace bowler, 4 games: Good batting form at club level suggests Hull is ready to make an impact at rep level as well. He is a quiet achiever who reads the game well. Favourite shot: Straight drive.
n PAUL LYTTLE (Greytown) Right hand middle order bat, wicketkeeper, 10 games: Lyttle doesn't do anything by halves. A naturally-gifted player he relies on superb hand eye co-ordination to punish opposing bowlers and is equally aggressive in his approach to wicket-keeping: Favourite shot: Leg glance.
n DEAN VAN DEVENTER (Rathkeale College) right hand middle order bat, pace bowler, 0 games: A star of the future, van Deventer is an excitement machine with bat and ball. He is capable of taking key wickets with the bat and of destroying a bowler's confidence with the bat. He seems a certainty for Central Districts under-17s this season. Favourite shot: Aerial cover drive.
n BROCK PRICE (Lansdowne): Right hand middle order bat, pace bowler, 2 games: Price is a well-performed all-rounder who can cement a place in the Wairarapa side if he can show consistency in both spheres. He would hit the ball as far as any batsman in Hawke Cup cricket and can bowl at lively pace. Favourite shot: Drive.
n HAYDEN SPIERLING (Greytown) right hand lower order bat, pace bowler, 28 games: Wairarapa's fastest bowler is back in the province after a season with the Petone club in the capital where he played for Wellington A against Central Districts. He has had fitness issues but would only need to be anywhere near his best to add to his already impressive number of Hawke Cup wickets. Favourite shot: Slog.
n AARON WILSON (Red Star) right hand lower order bat, off spin bowler, 12 games: Wilson has been around the rep scene for some seasons now and his experience in both restricting scoring and taking wickets should prove very valuable. He is no mug with the bat either. Favourite shot: On drive.