The lure of competing at a virtual world provincial cricket championship in Perth is a compelling incentive for Canterbury to win the Shell Cup cricket title again this weekend - for the eighth time in 10 seasons.
This time, apart from the honour and glory of capturing New Zealand domestic cricket's one-day crown, there is the opportunity to compete alongside the best teams in Australia, South Africa and India in late March and early April.
Canterbury, because of their record of winning seven of the past nine cup finals, had been sought by organisers West Australia.
But New Zealand Cricket decreed that this season's Shell Cup winner would travel. Canterbury's chance of joining the elite were grim at one stage, as they lay fifth after seven rounds with just two wins.
But Canterbury have stormed through, winning their last three round-robin matches and are already 1-0 ahead in the best-of-three finals series and hoping to wrap the title up with victory in today's day-night encounter at Jade Stadium.
Central Districts squandered an outstanding opportunity to set the defending champions back in the opening final, being unable to score the modest 175 needed to win at Napier on Wednesday.
Central coach Dipak Patel said the result had not discouraged his team.
"We competed right to the end of that match and it was not as if they outplayed us.
"We are not daunted by the task ahead of us at all."
Patel said a decision on the playing X1 would be left until a final inspection of the wicket, but it was unlikely Central would change their line-up.
Central's unfancied bowling attack has roared against some of the best batsmen in New Zealand, the only reservation being that they have just five specialist bowlers.
Of late, Central's gamble of using Ewen Thompson, Brent Hefford, Andrew Schwass, Jacob Oram and Glen Sulzberger has paid off, but if one or two get hit there is little cover. Central bought 13 players to Christchurch, with Haydn Morgan and Gareth West also both bowlers, but to include them would mean dropping one of their potentially dangerous batsmen.
Both teams will be hoping the return to a fresh wicket at Jade Stadium will release the shackles on strokemaking after the dour, low-scoring struggle at Napier.
The new wicket looked in exceptional order with an even grass cover, and groundsman Chris Lewis was confident it would play well.
The top seven Central batsmen are all highly capable, but the challenge is for them to score consistently.
Similarly, Canterbury have experienced batting reversals in the past two matches and need their top order to take greater responsibility to post a defendable score instead of relying on the bowlers and fieldsmen to get them out of trouble.
Canterbury are contemplating placing recent No 3 Aaron Redmond down the order, which would elevate Gary Stead, Craig McMillan and Chris Harris up a place.
If Canterbury can win it would be the second time they have won three successive championships during the past decade.
Outgoing coach Garry MacDonald said it would be memorable if the province could add three consecutive Shell Cup crowns alongside the Crusaders' three successive Super 12 rugby victories.
Canterbury: Brad Doody, Nathan Astle, Gary Stead (captain), Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Aaron Redmond, Marcel McKenzie, Gareth Hopkins, Carl Anderson, Stephen Cunis, Ryan Burson, Chris Martin.
Central Districts: David Kelly, Mathew Sinclair, Craig Spearman, Ben Smith, Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Glen Sulzberger, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Ewen Thompson, Brent Hefford, Haydn Morgan, Gareth West.
Umpires: Doug Cowie, Brent Bowden. Third umpire: Tony Hill.
Start time: 2.30 pm.
TAB odds head to-head: Canterbury $1.35, Central Districts $2.90.
- NZPA
Cricket: Shell Cup win carries bonus
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