Cricket: Tough line on shield drop-outs

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland coach Tony Sail has taken a swipe at the attitude of internationals Lou Vincent and Adam Parore, who will be missing from the Auckland side to take on Otago in the one-day competition today.

Dion Nash, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills and Mark Richardson will all play in the State Shield match in Alexandra. Otago's sole New Zealand selection, Brendon McCullum, will also line up.

National captain Stephen Fleming will play for Wellington against champions Central Districts in today's other match, in Wellington.

The New Zealand one-day side for the tri-series against South Africa and Australia will assemble in Brisbane tomorrow, but some of the players will leave today.

Sail said Vincent and Parore told him late on Thursday, after the loss to Canterbury at Eden Park, they did not want to play in Auckland's third shield match.

There had been some consultation with national coach Denis Aberhart, but Sail said the final decision rested with the players and he had no complaints against the New Zealand management.

It had been suggested that wicketkeeper/batsman Parore and batsman Vincent needed some rest. But Sail said: "I'm disappointed in their attitude. I won't say I didn't try to dissuade them, but in the end if they're not interested we only want players who are 100 per cent committed to the Auckland team.

"Two players decided they didn't want to be available and that's disappointing, especially considering we are nought from two.

"I can't really say what effect it will have on their futures with Auckland, but they are giving other players a chance in their place. I thought they might have wanted to keep playing to help them build up for Australia."

Vincent and Parore could not be reached for comment.