Cricket: Greatbatch back in middle for CD

Former New Zealand batsman Mark Greatbatch will come out of retirement to play for Central Districts in their final-round Shell Trophy cricket match starting in Auckland on Thursday.

Greatbatch, aged 36, was enticed out of retirement by the Central Districts selectors to fill the gap created by the absence of test batsmen Craig Spearman and Mathew Sinclair.

Central Districts, the trophy holders, need to beat Auckland outright to qualify for the final, and have to do so without Spearman and Sinclair, who will be in Wellington for the second test against Australia.

Greatbatch, who retired from first-class cricket at the end of the 1997-98 season, has been in good form for his Cornwall club in the Hawkes Bay competition, scoring 83 not out in the semifinal and 78 not out in the final this month.

Central Districts: Jacob Oram (captain), David Kelly, Joseph Hill, Glen Sulzberger, Mark Douglas, Mark Greatbatch, Martyn Sigley, Campbell Furlong, Andrew Penn, Tim Anderson, Lance Hamilton, Taraia Robin.

- NZPA