Cricket: Throng of newcomers sit on second tier

The list of debutants in New Zealand first class cricket continues to grow as gaps at the higher level are plugged.

Hamilton pace bowler Ben Winslade has been called into the Northern Districts team for their State Championship game against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

He gets his call-up with Ian Butler's continued unavailability and the one-match ban handed State Shield hero Graeme Aldridge.

On the plus side, ND coach Bruce Blair has Daryl Tuffey back to lead what promises to be a useful attack.

Tuffey has been sent back to representative cricket following his pasting by Australian batsmen in the ODI series and will probably share the new ball with Te Ahu Davis.

For Northern, with Matt Hart leading the side in the absence of James Marshall and Daniel Vettori, this is their chance to resurrect a season left in tatters following their hiding from Canterbury in Gisborne.

The Wellington attack, without James Franklin, surprise Black Caps selection Iain O'Brien and Ash Turner, might be a bit thin, which will also give the Northern top order some respite.

Auckland are in Dunedin to play Otago in a repeat of their last match.

Without Andre Adams, Tama Canning and Kyle Mills, the Auckland attack too looks a trifle thin. But coach Mark O'Donnell is confident Kerry Walmsley, Gareth Shaw and Andy McKay, with back-up from Aaron Barnes and the recalled Paul Hitchcock, can do the job.

In the absence of test pick Craig Cumming, 70-match veteran Chris Gaffaney will lead Otago for the first time.

The dropping of Muhammad Wasim has opened the way for Sean Eathorne to make his first class debut for the southerners after scoring an unbeaten 37 in their State Shield match against Canterbury early last month.

Most individual attention will centre on New Plymouth's Pukekura Park and Shane Bond's return to the big time.

Bond will have a restricted workload - 18 overs (probably in three or four spells) in the first innings and 15 in the second - for Canterbury against Central Districts.

Michael Papps has been ruled out of the Canterbury side, who will be led by Peter Fulton.

Former age-group representative Greg Hegglun has been named in the CD 12. A start today would be another debut appearance.

Today's series of matches signals the start of the second round - of three games - with the top two teams after the March 19 matches meeting in the April 3-7 final.

Four-day competition

Round 6 (today-Monday).-

* Otago v Auckland, University Oval, Dunedin
* Central Districts v Canterbury, Pukekura Park

* Wellington v Northern Districts, Basin Reserve
Points: Auckland 32, Wellington 20, Canterbury 16, Northern Districts 14, Otago, Central Districts 10.