Cricket: Turner demands tons more tons

Glenn Turner wants the Otago batsmen to acquire a habit he had in his playing days in the match against Auckland starting at Carisbrook today.

The Otago coach scored 103 centuries in his first-class career and he wants his batsmen to be similarly run-hungry.

They have been guilty of being dismissed in the 20s and 30s in the State Championship, and Turner said such scores were of limited use in four-day games.

"Some of our guys who haven't been getting hundreds have to put their hands up and make that move up," he said. "It's an opportunity for the likes of Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney and company to come up a step and start to get hundreds.

"We need a couple of batsmen to do that in every 10-12 knocks they play. Early in the season it feels like scoring 150 if you get to 50 - psychologically and physically - because you're not attuned to it. As the season goes on, hopefully that attitude changes.

"We've got a lot of strokemakers but, in this form of the game, obviously you need players who can bat long periods."

Turner cited opener Rob Lawson, who has batted almost two hours in three innings, but "just needs to go on."

He acknowledged that the wet spring and early summer had handicapped preparations. It was last Thursday before Otago practised on grass at Carisbrook.

Turner is not too unhappy about Otago losing outright in their first two matches.

"We're not too far away, but it's going to take some decent batting," he said. "It would be nice to get some points on the board before we go into the one-day series."

Otago had a draw and a win over Auckland last season, Gaffaney scoring 99 in the six-wicket victory at Eden Park.

Auckland have a formidable side, including six who have played for New Zealand.

Allrounder Dion Nash returns for his first game since he suffered an abdominal strain in the first test against Australia in Brisbane.

Otago: Lee Germon (capt), Robert Lawson, Brendon McCullum, Craig Cumming, Chris Gaffaney, Andrew Hore, Martyn Croy, Craig Pryor, Rob Smith, Kerry Walmsley, David Sewell, Evan Marshall.

Auckland (from): Brooke Walker (capt), Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Nick Horsley, Aaron Barnes, Kyle Mills, Dion Nash, Reece Young, Andre Adams, Tama Canning, Chris Drum, Rob Nicol, Llorne Howell.

- NZPA