Cricket: Contenders to miss key men

Title contenders Otago and Central Districts get a taste of life without their star batsmen in the feature match of round five of cricket's State Championship in New Plymouth this week.

The two sides take to Pukekura Park tomorrow robbed of their batting standouts Jonathan Trott and Ross Taylor - each given their chance at higher honours.

Trott, a revelation with bat and ball for Otago this season, has been called into the England development side and is gone for the New Zealand season.

It comes at a bad time for Otago who, thanks largely to Trott's innings of 120, beat Auckland outright last week to sit second on the points table, two behind leaders Wellington.

Taylor, with 246 Championship runs at 41.00 and 603 State Shield runs at 67.00 this season, has finally bashed down the selection door to the New Zealand team.

Coach John Bracewell yesterday whistled Taylor in for Wednesday's fourth one-day international against West Indies in Napier with the series already won 3-0.

The bonus for Central is that Taylor's selection came at the expense of opener Jamie How, who will return to New Plymouth in search of runs after his duck - and drinks-carrying duties - in Queenstown.

Central hold third place on the points table, six behind Otago, after securing two first-innings points from the drawn match against Canterbury in Christchurch last week.

Wellington couldn't finish off Northern Districts last week but return to their home ground at the Basin Reserve to host Auckland.

Having trailed the field in the State Shield, Auckland have carried that form into the four-day version with the loss to Otago leaving them tied for last with Northern on four points.

Wellington got a boost yesterday with the return of wicket-taking, left-arm paceman James Franklin from one-day duty.

They will again look to in-form batsman Jesse Ryder to help them rack up a big first innings total after his double of 136 and 66 last week gave him 433 season runs at 72.16.

- NZPA