Cricket: CD blend old and new for final

Central Districts coach Graham Barlow is leaning on his experienced players to jolt the younger ones out of the comfort zone in their bid to win back-to-back domestic one-day titles today.

Having won last year's final against Canterbury after scoring 147 without loss in the first 15 overs, Central are seeking to repeat the feat against Northern Districts at Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.

"We rely a lot on the experienced players to convey what they think is necessary about the opposition," Barlow said after his team's final net practice yesterday.

"It think that is important. There's quite a lot of interaction that way in the team."

But Central will need to break a recent trend, where the team taking the direct path to the final have gone on to lose.

Canterbury lost the final last year after finishing top qualifiers, while Northern won in 2003 after beating Wellington from a playoff position.

Barlow sees the advantages in his team having almost a week off, compared with the three days' break Northern have had since their semifinal win over Canterbury.

"When we play the one-day competition it's a matter of conserving energy. The break's been useful.

"I think you will find most teams at this stage are pretty exhausted by the play, travel, play, travel scenario."

Barlow is in his first season coaching Central, taking over from Mark Greatbatch when the former international went overseas.

Under Barlow, Central won seven of their nine completed round-robin matches.

The finalists this year are evenly matched, with Central, through wise heads Craig Spearman, Mathew Sinclair and captain Glen Sulzberger, having a slight edge in experience.

Sinclair has been the backbone of his side's batting this season and Barlow would also be pleased to see Spearman starting to hit form.

Another positive for Barlow is the form of his opening bowling combination of Lance Hamilton and Brent Hefford, offsetting the loss of internationals Michael Mason and Jacob Oram through injury.

"We're the two most consistent sides, there's no doubt about that," Barlow said.

"But I think we're justified in being quietly confident of winning."

Northern coach Bruce Blair is also in a confident mood as they chase their second title in three years - having beaten Auckland in the 2003 final.

Northern's in-form medium-fast bowler Graeme Aldridge needs just two wickets to equal the New Zealand one-day season record.

He has taken 26 - almost double the next best at 15 -- at an average of 15.4, and has the chance to equal or surpass Auckland's Andre Adams' record of 28.

Black Caps allrounder Scott Styris and Bruce Martin were not considered for the Northern squad because of injury.

Central Districts (from): G. Sulzberger (capt), C. Spearman, J. How, R. Taylor, M. Sinclair, J. Englefield, B. Griggs, B. Diamanti, L. Hamilton, A. Schwass, E. Thompson, B. Hefford.

Northern Districts (from): D. Vettori (capt), N. Horsley, A. Evans, J. Marshall, H. Marshall, J. Yovich, M. Hart, P. McGlashan, M. Orchard, D. Tuffey, G. Aldridge, D. Flynn, Te Ahu Davis.