Cricket: Aldridge swings into contention

To many, Graeme Aldridge should have been played in the fifth one day international against Australia. At the very least, he should have been playing for Northern Districts against Wellington on the same day.

However, non-selection for the first and suspension from the latter meant that Aldridge was kicking back at home waiting for the first day of his last year at teachers' college in Hamilton to begin.

He has, by way of consolation, secured the Domestic Cricketer of the Month award for February following his heroics for ND in the State Shield.

Aldridge had an outstanding State Shield campaign for Northern Districts and, in the final five matches of the competition played in February, took 15 wickets to be the dominant bowler in the competition.

He is the first player to have taken 30 wickets during the State Shield or its previous incarnations.

Graeme's performances included a man of the match effort in the final against Central Districts at Pukekura Park when he claimed 4-38 to take Northern Districts to the national one-day title.

It was these performances that had some commentators pushing for his inclusion in the Black Caps one-day side, a spot that went instead to Lance Hamilton.

"I was always hopeful but whether it was the right time for me I wasn't too sure," Aldridge said. "If I was given a crack I would have given it everything I could. But looking at the performances, everyone who has come into the team at the moment is being given a tough time. There's no such thing as containing them [Australia] but I would have loved to have got the call-up and tested myself against them."

Aldridge is not worried that he might be penned in as a one-day specialist. At domestic level, at least, he was confident his brisk outswingers would prove as effective in whites as they do in colours.

Asked why things have clicked into place so well this year, the right-armer pointed to the presence of some rarely sighted northerners.

"There's no particular reason," Aldridge said, "but I've enjoyed having the Black Caps back and playing alongside them."

Aldridge said he could count on the one hand the amount of times he has played with Daniel Vettori in the past but he clearly has big wraps on the spinner.

"He's a natural captain and I fed off a lot of what he was saying to me. It was great to have him back."

Aldridge was suspended following an altercation with an umpire in a minor association rep match.

"I've got to put it in perspective. While it's disappointing to be suspended, it's a game of cricket and I can't get too down about it."

As well as the February Deloitte Cricketer of the Month Award, Aldridge won a 29" Panasonic TV.