Cricket: Strike bowlers set to clash

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Andrew Schwass has a two-wicket advantage over Joseph Yovich as the country's leading wicket-takers prepare to go head-to-head in Hamilton today.

The pair, who spearhead the Central and Northern Districts' attacks respectively, will be playing at WestpacTrust Park in one of three seventh-round State Championship matches that start today.

Auckland will play Otago at Auckland's Colin Maiden Park and Wellington meet Canterbury at the Basin Reserve in matches starting at 10.30 am. Northern and Central will wait until 2 pm before starting their day-night fixture.

The chance to bowl on perhaps the best pitch in the country will not be lost on Schwass (30 wickets at 13.26) and Yovich (28 at 23.35).

Central, who won two-from-two on their South Island foray, have jumped into third place behind joint leaders Auckland and Wellington.

Northern, who lost their last match against Auckland on the first innings, are seven points from the lead in fifth place.

In the only change to the Central line-up, former international Jacob Oram is back from injury and will lead the team. He has replaced Peter McGlashan.

The Northern team is unchanged.

Auckland have Tama Canning and Gareth Shaw back, but are missing Richard Morgan, Sanjeeva Silva and Nick Horsley.

Otago have made no changes to their squad, although James McMillan, 12th man against Wellington, is considered likely to start.

In the only change to the Wellington side, suspended Richard Jones is replaced by Matthew Bell, although Iain O'Brien has been included in a 13-man Wellington squad.

Canterbury are without Chris Martin as he has further medical tests. Out-of-form Jarrod Englefield has been dropped and Warren Wisneski is still sidelined by injury.

Auckland v Otago, Colin Maiden Park, Glen Innes, 10.30 am. -

Auckland: Mark Richardson, Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Aaron Barnes, Rob Nicol, Tama Canning, Brooke Walker (capt), Reece Young, Llorne Howell, Chris Drum, Gareth Shaw, Sam Whiteman (12th man).

Otago: Robbie Lawson, Simon Beare, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Craig Pryor, Martyn Croy, Nathan Morland, James McMillan, David Sewell, Rob Smith, Neil Rushton.

Northern Districts v Central Districts, WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton, 2 pm. -

Northern Districts: James Marshall, Matthew Hart, Michael Parlane, Scott Styris, Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn, Robbie Hart (capt), Joseph Yovich, Simon Doull, Bruce Martin, Graeme Aldridge, Simon Andrews.

Central Districts: Jacob Oram (capt), David Kelly, Peter Ingram, Mathew Sinclair, Ben Smith, Glen Sulzberger, Campbell Furlong, Bevan Griggs, Andrew Schwass, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford, Lance Hamilton.

Wellington v Canterbury, Basin Reserve, Wellington 10.30 am. -

Wellington: Matthew Bell (capt), Luke Woodcock, Selwyn Blackmore, Sam Fairley, Grant Donaldson, Matthew Walker, James Franklin, Andrew Penn, Mark Gillespie, Mark Jefferson, Glynn Howell, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien.

Canterbury: Gary Stead (capt), Wade Cornelius, Michael Papps, Peter Fulton, Aaron Redmond, Robbie Frew, Shannon Stewart, Gareth Hopkins, Paul Wiseman, Ryan Burson, Stephen Cunis, Cleighton Cornelius.