Cricket: Auckland looking to bounce back after surprise defeat

Canterbury coach Michael Sharpe knows all too well how his Auckland rivals feel approaching the third round of the domestic competition at Rangiora today.

Auckland are in the situation Canterbury found themselves in last week, smarting from an unexpected loss to surprise competition leaders Otago on the same sunbaked Alexandra pitch.

The State Shield matches followed a similar pattern, with Otago beating Canterbury by 17 runs and Auckland by 16, despite centuries to Canterbury's Michael Papps and Auckland's Aaron Barnes.

With their first-round fixture against Central Districts having been rained out, Auckland's campaign has not gone to plan.

Canterbury responded to their Alexandra hiccup by handsomely winning away at Wellington last Sunday, and must now prevent Auckland from bouncing back in similar fashion.

"Maybe it was the wrong decision to bowl first on that [Alexandra] wicket," Sharpe said.

"But the bowlers did not bowl well enough and they were not supported by our fielding either.

"No game is an easy game. If you are not on top of your game, or if you are not giving it 100 per cent as a team unit, you can guarantee you will be beaten in this competition."

Canterbury have retained the same 12 players, but Auckland will be without Andre Adams, who was recalled by the Black Caps for tomorrow's match against Pakistan at Napier.

They still have seven players with international experience.

Auckland were the beaten finalists last season and have their sights still firmly set on going one better this time.

* Black Caps pace bowler Ian Butler is expected to lead the Northern Districts' welcoming party for Otago in Gisborne.

Sacrificed for the fourth one-day international against Pakistan, Butler has returned to the State Shield for two matches with Northern.

Butler is the quickest bowler in the country in the absence of Shane Bond and will be keen to test Otago.

If the batting can see off Butler, Otago will go some way to recording their third consecutive victory.

Otago achieved that feat last season, accounting for Auckland in Alexandra, Central Districts at New Plymouth and Northern Districts at Rotorua in the space of a week.

But they then went on to lose their last six games in the competition and finished last.

Northern, the defending champions, started the one-day summer with a loss to Wellington, but bounced back with a comfortable win over Central Districts.

James Marshall and Grant Robinson are in form with the bat, and Butler will be backed by a useful pace attack and the left-arm spin of Bruce Martin.

The wildcards in the Northern side are former test spinner Matthew Hart, who has reinvented himself as a consistent top-order batsman, and prolific wicket-taker Joey Yovich, who could arguably be considered a fringe Black Cap.

In the other State Shield match, Wellington are at home to Central Districts.


- NZPA