Cricket: Auckland teams get pro coaches

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Auckland club cricket has "gone professional," with the eight teams in the premier competition having to employ a coach.

Keen to improve the overall standard of individuals and teams, Auckland Cricket has provided the clubs with additional funding to allow them to engage coaches.

The club season starts today with the first round of one-day matches for the Crown Worldwide Movers Cup. The first four rounds, on successive Saturdays, will be played on artificial pitches.

The top eight clubs will play seven round-robin games in the premier competition, with the final on December 23. Six teams will play in the first-grade championship.

There have been a number of departures in the closed season, including Auckland Aces and Cornwall batsmen Stephen Lynch and Ian Billcliff, who have gone overseas.

Craig Pryor, who led Grafton last season, is now in Dunedin, as is former international pace bowler Kerry Walmsley.

Former Auckland and North Shore batsman Richard Jones has gone to Wellington, as has wicketkeeper Glynn Howell, from East Coast Bays.

Richard King has switched from Grafton to Howick Pakuranga, who look to have the strongest side, with Auckland reps Blair Pocock, John Aiken, Brooke Walker, Kyle Mills, Richard King and Dion Nash, when available.

The two-day competition will start on October 28 with the first games to be played on grass pitches.