Cricket: Semi at Eden Park 'the only choice'

Time constraints in getting scaffolding erected for television coverage has cost Taupo and the Northern Districts association the chance to host tomorrow's one-day semifinal against Canterbury.

"If we had been hosting the State Shield final on Saturday it would have been played in Taupo," Northern Districts chief executive David Cooper said yesterday.

"We were keen to host the match, but it became apparent after we had beaten Auckland on Sunday there would be a problem in getting the necessary scaffolding in place in time.

"We worked through all the options, including putting the game back a day and taking it to Gisborne, but in the end we had to agree that Eden Park was the only choice in the circumstances. We also looked at playing in Taupo without television but that, too, was ruled out.

"From our point of view there are some positives. Eden Park is easier for many of our members and supporters to get to. The players have stayed in Auckland. It is still a Northern Districts game, but being played in Auckland."

Cooper said he was hopeful big-time cricket would return to Hamilton's Westpac Park next summer.

"The block here won't have to be dug up. We just need to do some remedial work and see how it comes up ... there are other grounds within Northern Districts which could be looked at in future. While the wickets appear to be okay, there is work still to be done on bringing the facilities up to required standard."

Northern coach Bruce Blair will name his final team this afternoon. He is hopeful James Marshall and Scott Styris will return after missing Sunday's game with knee injuries.

Of the decision to play at Eden Park, Blair said: "I don't think of it as being a positive or negative. The plus is that the players have had a day off and can train again on Tuesday."

The semifinal, for the right to play Central Districts in the final at New Plymouth's Pukekura Park on Saturday, is on the outer oval from noon.

The squads

Canterbury (from): Craig McMillan (capt), Michael Papps, Nathan Astle, Peter Fulton, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Shanan Stewart, Neil Broom, Andrew Ellis, Paul Wiseman, Stephen Cunis, Chris Martin.

Northern Districts (from): Daniel Vettori (capt), James Marshall, Nick Horsley, Alun Evans, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, Matthew Hart, Joey Yovich, Peter McGlashan, Mark Orchard, Graeme Aldridge, Daniel Flynn, Te Ahu Davis, Anton Devcich.