Cricket: Wizards of willow, lords of leather

Ravi Bopara. Photo / Getty Images

Ravi Bopara, Auckland

Came out early to get in as much cricket as he could for Auckland, having been overlooked for England's tour to South Africa, in both test and ODI squads.

At the break in the domestic one-day competition, Essex pro Bopara leads the aggregates with 284 at 56.8 and has chipped in with handy wickets.

He's played eight Twenty20 internationals for England, averaging 22.71 with a strike rate of 111.18. In his 51 Twenty20s for Essex and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, he is going at a strike rate of 119.09 runs per 100 balls, so he's no slouch.

Auckland will fancy a few overs out of Bopara as well. He has had the most time in New Zealand of the imports and should be good value this month.

Tillekaratne Dilshan, Northern Districts

Had he been here from the start - ie, Blake Park in Mt Maunganui tomorrow - ND will have figured they'd got a coup.

After all, the explosive 33-year-old was player of the world Twenty20 championship in England this year. He hit 317 runs at 52 and at a pleasingly rapid strike rate, including 96 not out off 57 balls against the West Indies, and 53 off 32 balls in Sri Lanka's opening win over Australia, which put them on the path to the final.

However ND have struck rotten luck, with Dilshan required for a hastily arranged tri-series involving Bangladesh and India, which means he won't get to New Zealand before the sixth round at least.

So the trick for ND, who have opted not to get another overseas signing for the first half of the cup, will be to at least stay handy to the pace until Dilshan arrives, then hope he hits the ground running.

Graham Napier, Central Districts

A familiar face, the hard-hitting, fast-medium Napier was with Wellington last summer, so there's no excuses among CD's opponents on what to expect.

With Wellington he finished top wicket taker in the Twenty20 with 14 at 11.57 apiece, to go with his 21 one-day wickets at 20.8, second top to Otago's left-armer Neil Wagner.

In 55 Twenty20 games overall, Napier has strong figures - he averages 17.8 with the bat, but at a furious 150.46 strike rate, and has 70 wickets at 19.8, with an economy rate of 7.27. Importantly, he can clear the boundary on a regular basis.

Nine days ago, Napier, the only non-international among the five - flogged the ND attack with an unbeaten 73 off just 27 balls, 58 in boundaries.

The Essex professional, who turns 29 on Wednesday, looks a good signing for CD.

Owais Shah, Wellington

The experienced English batsman, long on the fringes of the national side without ever really cementing a spot, was recommended by former New Zealand and Wellington captain Stephen Fleming, who spent time with Shah at Middlesex.

He's a batsman, and a good 'un. His 17 Twenty20 internationals have produced an average of 24.78, at a 122.18 strike rate. He's played against New Zealand four times, so the word should have got around among the bowling fraternity quickly enough.

Karachi-born Shah is scoring at a 131.85 strike rate in 59 Twenty20 games and has a reputation as a smart, confident batsman, who finds the boundary.

Yasir Arafat, Otago

He's been unable to force a permanent place in the Pakistani side but the man with the distinctive name is well regarded. Unlike the other imports, Arafat is primarily a bowler but can bat, as a first-class average of almost 27 testifies.

"Yas", who has done stints with Sussex and Kent, once took five wickets in six balls in a domestic match in Pakistan, and only three other bowlers have done that.

The 27-year-old from Rawalpindi, who has played just three tests and 11 ODIs, was part of the Pakistan squad which made the final of the inaugural world Twenty20 champs in South Africa three years ago.

He was in New Zealand for the recent test tour, but was not required in the tests, and stayed on when Pakistan headed for Australia.

His overall numbers are good: in 59 Twenty20 games, Arafat has a strike rate of 137.43 with the bat, and 78 wickets with his medium pace at 19.75 and an economy rate of 7.77 an over.