Cricket: Central hope to turn it around

Central Districts are in desperation mode going into their one-day clash with a resurgent Otago in Nelson today.

Last season's limited-over champions are languishing at the bottom of the points table after losing their first three games.

They need points against Otago to get their campaign back on track and boost morale after being humiliated by Wellington at the weekend, losing by 110 runs after scoring a record low of 58.

"We're doing it very tough, but all is not lost," coach Dipak Patel said. "We are a very good side and we are not giving it away. We have had some good performances and some very ordinary ones. We just need more consistency."

Despite their record, Patel's optimism appears to be justified. Central were torpedoed by a Craig McMillan century in their five-wicket loss to Canterbury and then went to the wire in a three-wicket loss to Northern Districts.

Even the disaster at Wellington had a positive, with the bowlers performing well.

"We have been very good with the ball and then bad with the bat. And then we have batted well and not been so good with the ball.

"It's not just one area that's made it hard. It's consistency in all three disciplines," he said.

One of the major concerns has been the inability to make a positive start. As a result, opener David Kelly, who has averaged just 17 in three games, has been replaced by Marlborough left-hander John Nelson.

"We've only had one good start this year, against Northern, when we got 73 in the first 12 overs. That's an area we've been trying to target.

"He [Nelson] has scored a lot of runs and a couple of hundreds for Marlborough. He's got an aggressive nature and is capable of hitting over the infield. He deserves a chance," Patel said.

The only other change is the return of Nelson's medium-fast bowler Andrew Schwass to the 12-player squad. But Schwass is still battling a groin strain and will play only if he passes a fitness test.

Last night, Schwass rated his chances of playing at 50-50. "I'd like to play in front of my home crowd, but it's not looking too good. I don't want to come back too early and aggravate it," he said.

Patel agreed that the Schwass injury had been a big blow to the young Central Districts team. "He's been our best bowler by far. He's also useful with the bat as well, coming in at seven or eight - that's what we're missing."

Otago also have their injury woes, with the unavailability of pace bowler Warren McSkimming. But that did not stop them beating Canterbury by 45 runs at Jade Stadium on Monday to end an eight-match losing streak.

Otago have made just one change, with Lee Germon coming in for Jordan Sheed. The other match today is Northern v Canterbury in Whangarei.

Central Districts (from): Glen Sulzberger (capt), Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair, John Nelson, Ben Smith, Campbell Furlong, Bevan Griggs, Brent Hefford, Lance Hamilton, Michael Mason, Richard King, Andrew Schwass.

Otago (from): Craig Cumming (capt), Andrew Hore, Robbie Lawson, Chris Gaffaney, Craig Pryor, Lee Germon, Martyn Croy, Nathan McCullum, Rob Smith, James McMillan, Kerry Walmsley, David Sewell.

- NZPA