Auckland v ND
Colin Maiden Park, 11am today
Of more immediate concern is today's Auckland-ND one-day semifinal, but a news item has the rival chief executives looking long-term.
In an announcement full of "big picture" ideas and short on specifics, Rajasthan Royals reported that they had formed the world's first global sporting alliance, signing a deal with Hampshire CCC, South Africa's Cape Cobras and Trinidad & Tobago (Australian Twenty20 champions Victoria are also expected to come on board in the near future). All the teams will now carry the "Royals" moniker.
The alliance has certainly piqued the interest of Auckland Cricket chief executive Andrew Eade and his ND counterpart David Cooper.
"It's certainly on my list of things to investigate," said Eade of forming an alliance with a cash-rich IPL franchise. "I'm not overly certain how it would work but I don't see any issues with putting out feelers. It's about getting to talk to the right people. I see Trinidad & Tobago managed to get in there so it's not exclusive to the 'big' nations obviously."
Cooper said the Royals' alliance had been discussed at Thursday's board meeting He said there were opportunities that were more natural than others to investigate, such as forging an alliance with Dan Vettori's Delhi Daredevils. Auckland, too, can call on an IPL player to grease the wheels, with Scott Styris a member of IPL champions Deccan Chargers.
The winner of today's semifinal advances to next weekend's final, while the loser plays the winner of the Central Districts-Canterbury semifinal at home on Wednesday.
Auckland have brought in Michael Bates and Ronnie Hira to the side that lost to the Knights in Whangarei on Tuesday. Jimmy Neesham has also been named in a 13-man squad to allow some flexibility depending on pitch conditions. Pieter Erasmus has made way for Bates, while Tim McIntosh is now on national duty.
ND welcome back Peter McGlashan, who replaces BJ Watling, also away for test duty. There will be interest in whether Kane Williamson can keep an amazing record going. The 19-year-old has top scored for ND in each of their past five one-dayers, vaulting him to the top of the MVP standings.
ODI SEMIFINAL - AUCKLAND v ND:
AUCKLAND (from): Gareth Hopkins (c), Reece Young, Lou Vincent, Ravi Bopara, Scott Styris, Andrew de Boorder, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Ronnie Hira, Michael Bates, Lance Shaw, Bhupinder Singh, Jimmy Neesham.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS: James Marshall (c), Michael Parlane, Anton Devcich, Kane Williamson, Hamish marshall, Daniel Flynn, Joseph Yovich, Graeme Aldridge, Bradley Scott, Bruce Martin, Brent Arnel.
