Cricket: Fleming to play against Otago

By Terry Maddaford

Stephen Fleming is set to return to top-class cricket after being sidelined with a groin injury.

Fleming, who led the New Zealand team until forced to hand the reins to Dion Nash for the matches against South Africa, has been named in the Canterbury side for their fourth-round Shell Trophy match against Otago starting at QEll Stadium in Christchurch tomorrow.

It will be something of a reunion for Fleming - provided he comes through a second fitness test tonight - as his regular Blacks Caps team-mates Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan have also been included.

"There is no problem with walking and batting," Fleming said. "I just have to test my running and general mobility."

He still has his sights set on a return to the New Zealand team for the third test and beyond that, the one-day internationals against South Africa.

With all Trophy teams losing players to New Zealand A and with test players Dion Nash, Simon Doull, Adam Parore and Geoff Allott being given a rest, a number of players are likely to play at first-class level for the first time.

Tim McIntosh, Michael Papps and Jarrod Englefield, who played for New Zealand in the recent under-19 series against England, have been named in the Auckland, Canterbury and Central Districts squads respectively, with McIntosh and Papps likely to open the batting.

Teams (with Shell Trophy points in brackets)-
Auckland (8): Blair Pocock, Tim McIntosh, Lou Vincent, Stephen Lynch, Richard King, Aaron Barnes, Reece Young, Chris Drum, Kyle Mills (subject to fitness test), Kerry Walmsley, Tim Lythe, Mark Haslam.

Northern Districts (12): Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Michael Parlane, Neal Parlane (subject to fitness test), Grant Bradburn, Robert Diver, Matt Hart, Robbie Hart, Daniel Vettori, Joseph Yovich, Daryl Tuffey, Graeme Aldridge.

Central Districts (14): Craig Spearman, Campbell Furlong, Jarrod Englefield, Glenn Sulzberger, Mark Douglas, Jacob Oram, Tim Anderson, Martyn Sigley, Lance Hamilton, David Blake, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason.

Wellington (8): to be announced today.

Canterbury (2): Craig Cumming, Michael Papps, Stephen Fleming (subject to fitness test), Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Mark Priest, Warren Wisneski, Glynn Howell, Shane Bond, Chris Martin, Carl Anderson.

Otago (8): Chris Gaffaney, Matt Horne, Michael Lamont, Mark Richardson, Stephen Mather, Martyn Croy, David Sewell, Mark Billcliff, Paul Wiseman, Glenn Jonas, Nathan Morland, Simon Forde.