Cricket: Bay boys bolster Knights

Speedster Tony Goodin is one of five Bay of Plenty players to be included in the Plunket Shield squad to play Otago in Dunedin beginning tomorrow. Photo / File

The Northern Districts side to play Otago in the Plunket Shield tomorrow has more than a touch of the Bay of Plenty about it.

Five players - Graeme Aldridge, Bharat Popli, Joe Carter, Daniel Flynn and Tony Goodin - have all been named for the first of back-to-back matches before Christmas that will see them play Wellington at Seddon Park from December 18-21.

The Bay contingent will be looking to make every post a winner with Black Caps Trent Boult, Tim Southee and BJ Watling all expected to be available for selection for the match against Wellington.

Neither Carter, Popli nor Goodin were involved in the Twenty20 campaign, so have instead been plying their trade for their clubs and a Bay side that faltered in their absence on the final day of the Fergus Hickey Rosebowl in Taupo against Counties on Tuesday.

The side also welcome back test match leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who looks likely to be available for the remainder of the four-day competition.

Tim Seifert from Waikato Valley will make his first class four-day debut behind the stumps after impressing in the Twenty20 competition.

He will turn 20 on the final day of the match, adding to a youthful bunch under the age of 25 including Carter, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Popli, Mitchell Santner and Sodhi.