Cricket: Familiar faces return to Auckland's new-look Plunket Shield team

Canterbury Wizards Rob Nicol. File photo / Greg Bowker

Auckland are a significantly changed group from last season for the start of the Plunket Shield competition against Northern Districts in Whangarei today - yet the new names have a familiar ring.

Missing are opener Tim McIntosh, long-serving captain Gareth Hopkins, who has retired, and veteran spinner Bruce Martin, while international players Martin Guptill and Kyle Mills are on national duty this week.

There's a new captain, Auckland old boy Rob Nicol, back with the province after a stint at Canterbury, and wicketkeeper Brad Cachopa, his brother Carl and legspinner Tarun Nethula have returned after time away with other provinces.

Nicol likes the way things are coming together, but he's realistic.

"We're feeling quietly confident in terms of the direction we're going, but you never know until you start playing if you're going to be effective," the former international said.

Auckland had two games against Afghanistan, another against an ND XI, and 20 days together, including getting in quality work on grass pitches in Mt Maunganui, which was time well spent.

It's a disjointed domestic season, with the other four teams having one match each before dropping into T20 mode from November 1.

Canterbury host Wellington from Saturday, and Central Districts meet Otago in Napier from Sunday.

ND yesterday revealed former Australian T20 international and Wellington import Travis Birt as their first overseas signing for the domestic T20 competition.

Origin cricket has been added to the domestic calender, with a North v South T20 clash on October 31 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

The game ties in with the start of the Georgie Pie Super Smash at the same ground the following day. Team members have been picked according to their place of birth.

Experienced pair Kyle Mills (North) and Peter Fulton (South) will lead the sides.

ND v Auckland

Northern Districts: Daniel Flynn (c), Anton Devcich, Joe Carter, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, BJ Watling, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Ish Sodhi, Graeme Aldridge, Tony Goodin, James Baker.

Auckland: Rob Nicol (c), Jeet Raval, Anaru Kitchen, Carl Cachopa, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Brad Cachopa, Donovan Grobbelaar, Tarun Nethula, Matt Quinn, Dean Bartlett, Michael Bates.