Cricket: Otago bring in Wiseman to test Auks

Test spinner Paul Wiseman will return to the Otago cricket team for the Shell Cup match against unbeaten Auckland at Molyneux Park in Alexandra today.

Wiseman's inclusion at the expense of Nathan Morland is the only change to the side who lost narrowly to Canterbury and beat Wellington in the first two rounds.

Wiseman has a miserly economy rate in the Shell Cup (3.83 runs an over during his 38 games) and could be valuable on a pitch being used for the second time.

Auckland, who have beaten Wellington (by four wickets) and Central Districts (by nine wickets), have made one change, with aggressive opening batsman Llorne Howell, who missed the opening games because of a virus, returning in place of Richard King.

Otago captain Robbie Lawson said the match against Auckland would be "a good test of where we're at."

Auckland coach Tony Sail has specific goals for his team after a good start to the campaign in which the opposition have been dismissed for 111 and 123.

"We're still in a rebuilding phase, but we're getting our systems in place," Sail said. "We want to be the top qualifier after 10 rounds so we can go straight through to the [best-of-three] finals. We just want to improve from game to game."

A key to Auckland's success has been lively medium-pacer Andre Adams, who has eight for 23 in the first two games.

The Auckland batting has not been fully tested so far, but accomplished opener Aaron Barnes has displayed good form with scores of 39 and 59 and will relish the prospect of returning to Molyneux Park after making an unbeaten 80 there last year.

Meanwhile, Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson said yesterday there was no panic among his team despite losing their first two Shell Cup cricket matches.

Wellington play Northern Districts today, with extra interest in the match because it is the first official fixture at the WestpacTrust Stadium in Wellington.

Mayu Pasupati comes into the 12 for Roger Twose in the only change to the squad from the first two rounds.

In the other match of the third round, Central Districts play Canterbury in Nelson, with the home side looking to end a bad start to the competition after back-to-back losses.

Canterbury have two wins from as many games.

Otago: Robbie Lawson (captain), Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Mark Richardson, Stephen Mather, Simon Forde, Martyn Croy, Warren McSkimming, Paul Wiseman, Karl O'Dowda, Neil Rushton, Aaron Gale.

Auckland: Blair Pocock (captain), Aaron Barnes, Llorne Howell, Stephen Lynch, Lou Vincent, John Aiken, Brooke Walker, Kyle Mills, Andre Adams, Chris Drum, Richard Morgan, Tama Canning.

Wellington: Chris Nevin (captain), Grant Donaldson, Matthew Bell, Richard Petrie, Jason Wells, Tim Boyer, Mark Jefferson, Carl Bulfin, Paul Hitchcock, Mayu Pasupati, Matthew Walker, Robert Kennedy.

Northern Districts: Robbie Hart (captain), James Marshall, Hamish Marshall, Neal Parlane, Michael Parlane, Joseph Yovich, Daryl Tuffey, Mark Bailey, Grant Bradburn, Graeme Aldridge, Bruce Martin, Alex Tait.