Cricket: Plunket success sets up Auckland for a bash at the super smash

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Auckland's season has begun well and pressing on in a different format is the next item of business.

The five-wicket win over Northern Districts at Whangarei last week was a solid start to the Plunket Shield, but the T20 is where the flash and dash resides - not to mention a trip to the Champions League late next year.

The format has changed. There's a new sponsor and therefore a new name, the Georgie Pie Super Smash. Mince and potato tops all round.

New Zealand Cricket deserve applause for trying a new way of doing things. There are two double headers in Hamilton this weekend. They'll have another turn next weekend, followed by Auckland, Wellington and Napier.

The word is the players have welcomed the chance to play more than once in a weekend. It is good news for spectators too, with decent prices for two games an afternoon/evening.

Auckland are being coached by former mentor Mark O'Donnell in the T20.

They'll have four internationals in their 12 for the game against Otago tonight - Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills, all of whom are off to Dubai with the New Zealand A squad later this month.

"Switching between the formats is really not a big deal now, all the guys are used to doing that on a regular basis," O'Donnell said. "I think we've got a well balanced side and we've got a batting lineup that is capable of doing some real damage."

ND welcome their two imports, former Australian limited-overs internationals Travis Birt and Ben Laughlin, for their two games against Wellington and Otago.

As defending champions, they have a point to make. They made the Champions League proper a few weeks ago, only to have their challenge peter out after a strong start.

Anton Devcich, Dan Vettori and Dean Brownlie head to the UAE on November 19 with NZ A, so ND will want to take advantage of the time they have here.

T20 match-ups

This weekend's Georgie Pie Super Smash draw (all at Seddon Park):
Today: Northern Districts v Wellington, 3.50pm; Auckland v Otago, 7.10pm
Tomorrow: ND v Otago, 3.50pm; Canterbury v Central Districts, 7pm
Auckland squad: Rob Nicol (c), Martin Guptill, Anaru Kitchen, Carl Cachopa, Colin Munro, Colin de Grandhomme, Brad Cachopa, Donovan Grobbelaar, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt Quinn, Tarun Nethula, Michael Bates.
ND squad: Daniel Flynn (c), Travis Birt, Dean Brownlie, Anton Devcich, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert, Dan Vettori, Jono Boult, Scott Kuggeleijn, Mitchell Santner, Graeme Aldridge, Ben Laughlin.