Cricket: 'Third fiddle' boasts a bulging bag of wickets

Northern Districts bowler Graeme Aldridge has been pumping iron. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Graeme Aldridge has no problem playing second or third fiddle in the Northern Districts bowling attack.

The unsung hero is in no hurry to conduct an orchestra that have remained on-song for much of the State Shield season and are just a win away from a shot at regaining the title they last won two seasons ago.

Aldridge, who has plied his trade in the shadow of fellow pace bowlers Daryl Tuffey, Joey Yovich, Ian Butler and Scott Styris, goes into this afternoon's semifinal against Canterbury at Eden Park's outer oval as the new Northern Districts record-holder, with 24 wickets for a season.

He is also well ahead of Central Districts' Lance Hamilton and Andrew Schwass (with 15 each) and Otago's Jeff Wilson (14) as the leading wicket-taker this season.

In edging ahead of Yovich, Aldridge has taken his career haul to 72 from 46 matches, including a 5-34 best (against Canterbury this season).

A continuation of that form could see him challenge Alex Tait as Northern Districts' and New Zealand's most successful one-day domestic bowler. In 90 matches, Tait took 128 wickets, with a 4-29 best.

Why the change of fortune?

"I'm not sure," said Aldridge. "I'm not really doing much different.

"I have changed my action a little and worked hard on my fitness. I did more weights last winter, which probably helped."

But far from having stars in his eyes - he has not appeared on the national selectors' radar and never been invited to New Zealand Cricket's academy - Aldridge happily goes about his work.

"I'm not as quick as the other guys. I'm no expert at reverse swing but I have got something out of some seamer-friendly wickets," said the 27-year-old. "I have been able to swing the ball a bit."

He points to that five-wicket bag in Northern's win over Canterbury at Timaru last month as his most complete performance.

"Everything fell into place. But it doesn't always happen. [Stephen] Fleming [in the game against Wellington] got stuck into me big-time but over 10 matches you have to expect to have the odd bad one. Hopefully that's behind me."

After playing most of his cricket under Robbie Hart, Aldridge has continued what he enjoys best, taking wickets, under new captains James Marshall and Daniel Vettori.

"James is improving all the time while Dan has all the experience to make sure it runs like clockwork. They bring something different than Rob, who tended to be a bit conservative at times. We also have Daryl and Joey, who bring quite a bit of experience."

Aldridge accepts he is often picked on by opposing batsmen.

"But that doesn't worry me. I see myself as the third seamer who can do a job in restricting the runs. That's the role I prefer."

Now based in Hamilton, where he has been at teachers' college, Aldridge is the quiet achiever who remains popular with team-mates.

Canterbury have made one change for the match, bringing specialist batsman Neil Broom in for pace-bowler Hayden Shaw.

Coach Michael Sharpe will wait until a pitch inspection this morning before naming his 12th man. But he said Canterbury would go into the match with six bowling options.

* Allrounder Styris was yesterday ruled out of today's semifinal because of a knee injury and will also miss the final should Northern make it, plus Sunday's North-South clash. 


Graeme Aldridge

Born: November 15, 1977, Christchurch.

School: Otumoetai College.

Rep honours: Northern Districts U19, Northern Districts representative.

First-class debut: versus Wellington, 1998-1999; one-day debut v CD, 1998-1999.

Highest score: 49 v CD (first class); 28 v Otago (one-day).

Best bowling: 5-50 v Auckland (first class); 5-34 v Canterbury (one-day).

Wickets taken: 71 at 32.86 (first class); 72 at 19.28 (one-day). 

One-day semifinal

Northern Districts v Canterbury.

Eden Park outer oval, Auckland.

Live on Sky Sport 1 from 11.50am.