Cricket: Nudge for national selectors

Jeff Wilson is in such hot batting form that he is good enough to return to the New Zealand one-day team.

That's the view of Wilson's former Southland and Otago team-mate Richard Hoskin, who can't wait to see the double All Black thrill home-town fans when Otago host Northern Districts in a State Shield one-day match at Queens Park in Invercargill on Sunday.

"Jeff, watching from just a batting point of view, is ready to play international cricket," Hoskin said yesterday.

"If he had his bowling right, he is a player who could bat in the first six and bowl your 10 overs, and that's the balance the New Zealand cricket team need."

Wilson is expected to play in Invercargill, even though he will not turn out against Canterbury in Timaru today because of a hamstring injury.

Hoskin is an Otago selector and said Wilson was being stood down as a precaution.

Hoskin is also Southland Cricket's chief executive, but his statement about Wilson being ready to return to international play for the first time in more than a decade was not made to boost the promotion of Sunday's round-eight fixture.

"I just think Jeff is playing more cricket and he has got some continuity of getting out on the field and playing regularly as a batsman," Hoskin said.

"Just his natural skill and enthusiasm for hitting the ball to the boundary has been shown."

Wilson has been in fine batting form in the State Shield competition, having scored 261 runs, averaging 52.10.

His best scores were 86 against Canterbury and 66 in the loss against Central Districts on Wednesday.

- NZPA