Cricket: O'Connor offered chance to shine

By Richard Boock

Shayne O'Connor will have another chance to press his claims for a test recall when he plays for New Zealand A against South Africa at Lincoln Green next week.

Left-armer O'Connor, the leading wicket-taker in New Zealand domestic cricket with 29, has been unable to break back into the test team after being left out at the start of the Indian tour, the selectors instead opting for Simon Doull, Geoff Allott and Dion Nash.

He was frustratingly close to reclaiming his test berth when he was rushed in as a replacement for Doull on the eve of the washed-out Carisbrook test, but was then overlooked in the one-day series when the selectors called in Chris Drum.

The Otago player's haul in six games of first-class cricket includes a 12-wicket bag in the Shell Trophy match against Auckland, when he fully exploited conditions on Eden Park's outer oval.

The selectors have included the in-form Andrew Penn (26 wickets this season) and Wellington tearaway Carl Bulfin in the A team's pace battery, and have recognised Scott Styris' all-round abilities, and Gareth Hopkins' blossoming reputation as a wicketkeeper.

However, the immediate international prospects of Otago offspinner Paul Wiseman have waned somewhat, the 28-year-old first losing his test place to Matt Hart, and then being overlooked for duty in Christchurch.

Instead, the selectors have decided to have another look at Auckland legspinner Brooke Walker for the three-day tour match, which starts on March 6.

To be captained by Canterbury batsman Gary Stead, the side include a smattering of the best-performed batsmen in domestic cricket, with Mathew Sinclair and Bryan Young both having posted three-figure scores, and Robbie Lawson and Mark Bailey also proving productive.

NZ A (12th-man yet to be named): Gary Stead (captain), Robbie Lawson, Bryan Young, Mark Bailey, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Brooke Walker, Shayne O'Connor, Andrew Penn, Carl Bulfin.