Cricket: Injury niggles force Bailey to quit

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Northern Districts have lost one of their more faithful servants with Mark Bailey's decision to retire.

During his winter build-up for the 2001-2002 season, Bailey has been frustrated by a run of niggling injuries which led to waning enthusiasm and his decision to step down.

In the top eight on ND's all-time batting list, Bailey, regarded as one of the most elegant strokemakers in New Zealand cricket, made his debut against India in the 1989-90 season. He played in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur but never made a test side.

With the limited-overs State Shield now run and won, attention returns to the first-class game today with the fifth round of the State Championship.

In the feature game, leaders Canterbury, who have 16 points, play second-placed Auckland, with 13, on Eden Park's main oval on a specially prepared portable pitch.

Mark Richardson has returned to the Auckland line-up and wicketkeeper Adam Parore is being rested.

Warren Wisneski is over the injury that kept him out of shield matches and will play for Canterbury, but Michael Papps is still sidelined.

Glen Sulzberger has returned to the Central Districts side and will resume the captaincy in their "battle of the bottom" with Otago at Alexandra. Central have six points and Otago four.

Northern Districts go into their match against Wellington at WestpacTrust Park in third place with 12 points while Wellington, who won the shield, have nine.

Teams.-

Auckland: Matt Horne, Mark Richardson, Tim McIntosh, Aaron Barnes, Rob Nicol, Llorne Howell, Tama Canning, Brooke Walker (capt), Nick Horsley, Reece Young, Chris Drum, Gareth Shaw. Kyle Mills and Mark Haslam were unavailable.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Jarrod Englefield, Robbie Frew, Shanan Stewart, Peter Fulton, Aaron Redmond, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski, Stephen Cunis, Ryan Burson, Chris Martin.

Northern Districts: James Marshall, Matthew Hart, Michael Parlane, Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn, Robbie Hart (capt), Scott Styris, Simon Doull, Bruce Martin, Graeme Aldridge, Joseph Yovich, Simon Andrews.

Wellington: Richard Jones, Matthew Bell (capt), Selwyn Blackmore, David Sales, Grant Donaldson, James Franklin, Andrew Penn, Matthew Walker, Mark Jefferson, Jeetan Patel, Mark Gillespie, Glyn Howell.

Otago: Craig Cumming, Andrew Hore, Robbie Lawson, Simon Beare, James McMillan, Martyn Croy, Kerry Walmsley, David Sewell, Chris Gaffaney, Craig Pryor, Rob Smith, Nathan Morland.

Central Districts: David Kelly, Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair, Ben Smith, Glen Sulzberger (capt), Peter McGlashan, Campbell Furlong, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford, Lance Hamilton.