Cricket: Reinforcements called in after two rounds

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The third round of the national four-day championship starts today with a dozen players not contracted to the national or local associations set to play.

It seems strange that after only two rounds of the State Championship, selectors have been forced to go outside their contracted players.

Auckland will have Richard King, Rob Lynch and Heath Davis ready to play Central Districts in Blenheim.

Central have called in Greg Todd, who joins Jamie How. CD are without test players Jacob Oram and Michael Mason.

Auckland have lost Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent to the New Zealand team for the first test, Tama Canning to injury and Andre Adams, who has been advised to rest.

"The last time I was in Blenheim was to play cricket as a 12-year-old," said Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell before flying south. "I'm sure it will have changed. More than anything I want some decent weather."

Auckland will open their batting with Matt Horne and Tim McIntosh, with Lynch and King to follow, allowing Rob Nicol to remain at five. Gareth Shaw, Davis or Brad Nielsen will be 12th man.

O'Donnell is confident that Canning, who batted so well despite a broken finger in the last-ball win over Wellington, will be fit in about 10 to 14 days.

Northern Districts have been forced to make five changes, including a brotherly switch in the captaincy for their bottom-of-the-table match against Otago in Dunedin.

Out go captain Rob Hart, Daniel Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and Scott Styris (to New Zealand) and Ian Butler (injured). In come Simon Andrews, Gareth West, David Kelly, Bruce Martin and Nathan Daley.

West, Kelly and Daley are poised for their first-class debuts. Daley is ND's only non-contracted player.

Matt Hart will take over as captain against Otago, who will welcome Jeff Wilson back for his first first-class game since retiring from rugby.

Otago have named non-contracted Robbie Lawson and Warren McSkimming, who played only one-day games last season.

Canterbury and Wellington go into their clash at Rangiora's Dudley Park a point behind Auckland in second place.

Canterbury have lost Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Shane Bond to the test and Chris Cairns, who is to have a knee operation. They have brought in Robbie Frew, Shannon Stewart, Peter Fulton and Warren Wisneski. Brendon Donkers, who impressed against Northern Districts, and wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins are not contracted.

nteThe next round of championship matches start on January 10. The one-day State Shield competition starts on December 28.

Central Districts v Auckland, Horton Park, Blenheim.

Central Districts: Craig Spearman (capt), Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair, Jamie How, Glen Sulzberger, Bevan Griggs, Greg Loveridge, Greg Todd, Martyn Sigley, Andrew Schwass, Brent Hefford, Lance Hamilton.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Matt Horne, Rob Lynch, Tim McIntosh, Richard King, Rob Nicol, Craig Pryor, Kyle Mills, Reece Young, Heath Davis, Gareth Shaw, Brad Nielsen.

Canterbury v Wellington, Dudley Park, Rangiora.-

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Robbie Frew, Michael Papps, Peter Fulton, Shannon Stewart, Chris Harris, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Warren Wisneski, Chris Martin, Brendon Donkers, Andrew Ellis.

Wellington: Matthew Bell (captain), Richard Jones, Neal Parlane, Leighton Morgan, Grant Donaldson, Chris Nevin, Mark Gillespie, Matthew Walker, Mark Jefferson, Andrew Penn, Jeetan Patel, Iain OBrien.

Otago v Northern Districts, Carisbrook, Dunedin.-

Otago: Mohammad Wasim, Robbie Lawson, Craig Cumming (capt), Brendon McCullum, Jordan Sheed, Jeff Wilson, Nathan Morland, Shayne O'Connor, Warren McSkimming, Kerry Walmsley, James McMillan, David Sewell.

Northern Districts: Matt Hart (capt), James Marshall, Nick Horsley, Michael Parlane, David Kelly, Hamish Marshall, Joseph Yovich, Bruce Martin, Graeme Aldridge, Gareth West, Simon Andrews, Nathan Daley.