By TERRY MADDAFORD
Auckland coach Tony Sail doubts the Shell Trophy cricket final will go the distance.
The final, between top qualifiers Northern Districts and Auckland starting tomorrow at Taupo's Owen Delany Park, brings together the two best teams in the domestic competition and gives Auckland the chance to avenge the hiding
they were handed at the same ground in the third round.
"I doubt the game will go five days," said Sail. "There have to be 100 overs bowled each day, which makes it longer than a test match.
"I'm not sure just how much preparation has gone into the wicket so it promises to be an interesting contest."
With Bruce Martin released from the New Zealand squad to play, Northern will go into the match with 11 of the 12 players who beat Auckland by an innings and 65 runs in their earlier encounter.
Scott Styris, who was on one-day duty for New Zealand, is back in place of Daryl Tuffey, who is making his test debut in Hamilton.
Auckland have Llorne Howell (injured), and Kerry Walmsley and Chris Drum out from the team who played in Taupo and replaced by Stephen Lynch, Andre Adams, Mark Haslam and Kyle Mills, who was 12th man first time round.
"We are pretty determined to put that behind us," said Sail. "Northern have scored fewer runs than other teams in the Shell Trophy but have bowled teams out."
Sail would be happier if Simon Doull, not Tuffey, was playing the Hamilton test.
"Doull won the game for them last time with his three for 22 in the first innings. We are the only team to face Doull twice this season. That's not going to be easy."
Northern will again look for runs at the top of their order, with Michael Parlane, James Marshall and Mark Bailey all capable of giving them a winning start as they did in the previous clash.
The match, which starts at 10 am each day, will be umpired by Evan Watkin and Dave Quested, who were given the nod ahead of Brent Bowden.
Auckland: Blair Pocock (capt), John Aiken, Lou Vincent, Stephen Lynch, Richard King, Aaron Barnes, Brooke Walker, Tama Canning, Kyle Mills, Reece Young, Mark Haslam, Andre Adams.
Northern Districts: James Marshall, Michael Parlane, Mark Bailey, Neal Parlane, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Grant Bradburn, Joseph Yovich, Robbie Hart (capt), Alex Tait, Simon Doull, Bruce Martin.
