Wicket upgrade to draw rep matches

WELCOME BOOST: George Deans is back from a stint in Ireland.

THE cricket wicket block at Queen Elizabeth Park oval in Masterton is to get a makeover.

A meeting of the Masterton District Council this week agreed the state of the block had deteriorated to the point that up to $60,000 could be spent on returning it to the condition where it would be suitable for first-class play.

Councillors also supported a proposal by Wairarapa Cricket to move the park grandstand 4m back from its present site, something which will provide for a slightly bigger playing area. That, too, will be a help in attracting first-class matches to the oval.

Wairarapa Cricket chairman Sam Rossister-Stead welcomed the council decisions, labelling them as "fantastic news".

"We have been strongly supported by the Central Districts Cricket Association and they have given us an assurance that representative cricket will return to the oval once the renovations to the wicket block have been completed," he said.

Meanwhile, Wairarapa coach Kevin Cooper says the chances of his squad beating Wanganui in their Hawke Cup zone two qualifying round match at Marton this weekend will largely depend on the top order batting giving them a better start than they have in previous matches this season.

"It's very hard to get yourself into a winning position if the top order isn't firing," Cooper said. The problem Cooper - and his fellow selectors - have is that in-form specialist openers are not exactly a dime a dozen in Wairarapa at the present time. In fact, the likelihood is that a new combination of Brock Price and Paul Lyttle will be tried there this weekend with recent acquisition from Southland Todd Thayer taking the first drop role.

Red Star's Chris Wenden, who has been been brought into the squad after some handy club performances, and skipper Jamie Holmes could be in the top order mix as well.

Other players in the Wairarapa squad who have mainly been chosen for their batting skills are Robbie Speers and Liam Burling with all-rounders George Deans, the former Rathkeale College player back from a stint in Ireland, and Gordon Reisima and the strike bowlers Calvin Ball, Stefan Hook-Sporry and Brian James.

The return of Ball, who missed the Horowhenua-Kapiti game a fortnight ago, should be a boon for Wairarapa. He seldom fails to maintain a consistent line and length and should be a good foil for Hook-Sporry, whose feats with the new ball so far this season has made him spearhead of the Wairarapa attack.

On the club front, matches in the Umpire's Cup competition will continue on Sunday with an earlier start time of 11am. Red Star will play Wairarapa College at Wairarapa College and Landsdowne will do battle with Greytown at Greytown.