Cricket: Canterbury keep recalled Astle

Canterbury have fared better than Wellington in the comings and goings affecting the New Zealand camp ahead of their first-round State Shield match at Rangiora today.

While Wellington have lost James Franklin, who replaces the injured Andre Adams against Sri Lanka in Queenstown, Canterbury will still have the services of Nathan Astle.

Astle has been recalled by the Black Caps as extra cover for new father Stephen Fleming but will not travel south until tomorrow morning.

Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy is expecting Astle and Craig McMillan to make the most of their opportunities to remind the national selectors of their qualities.

"I think both of them are pretty hungry to get runs to force their way back into contention," he said.

"They bring a lot of experience in one-day cricket and I'm sure they will contribute really nicely to the team.

"They have both had three good days of practice and have trained hard with bat and ball."

Wellington, meanwhile, have brought in unknown medium-fast bowler Scott Rasmussen to replace Franklin.

Rasmussen is in his second season after joining the Onslow club from Auckland but was not involved in any of Wellington's warm-up fixtures.

Canterbury's Stephen Cunis is fit again but Andrew Ellis (back strain) and Richard Sherlock (achilles) have injury concerns and Todd Astle is captaining Canterbury under-19s at Lincoln University.

West Indian medium-fast bowler Nixon McLean will spearhead a bowling battery which is likely to include 18-year-old Hamish Bennett, who impressed Nosworthy during the championship game against Otago.

"I suppose he rubber-stamped his position on that last innings in Dunedin. As well, [there was] the potential that we originally selected him on. He's a guy who will give 100 per cent," Nosworthy said.

The remaining rookies are all-rounders Iain Robertson and Brent Findlay, who have enjoyed success at club level this summer.

Robertson is the more experienced of the two and has been close to donning the Canterbury cap on several occasions, while Findlay captained the New Zealand under-19 side last season.

- NZPA