Cricket: Yock is first player to break ranks

12.00pm

Canterbury wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Yock has been revealed as the first player to break ranks with the Cricket Players' Association (CPA) in their pay dispute with New Zealand Cricket.

Canterbury Cricket Association chief executive Richard Reid today confirmed Yock was the player who decided to break away from the 128-strong CPA.

Yock, 27, was named today among 16 Canterbury players to line up in warm-up matches against Otago in Rangiora this weekend. He hasn't played first-class cricket for five years.

Yock refused interviews after the team were named today, but he was quoted yesterday as saying "nobody owns me".

He is the only player named today with previous first-class experience.

The Canterbury team will be captained by former Canterbury B representative Paul Rugg and includes Timaru players Andrew Buckingham and Todd Elliot. Two schoolboys were also selected -- David Hay of Christchurch Boys' High School and Adam Chambers of St Andrew's College.

Twenty-three Canterbury players -- including Black Caps Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Chris Harris -- are among the 128 striking members of the CPA around the country.

The Canterbury team will play Otago in a one-day game in Rangiora on Sunday, and a two-day game on Monday and Tuesday.

Canterbury: Paul Rugg (captain), Bernard Ballin, Andrew McDowell, Ben Yock, Neil Broom, Peter Borren, Chris Sowden, Jeremy Kench, Todd Elliot, Brendon Donkers, Brandon Hiini, David Hay, Lighton Burtt.

Yock, Kench and Hay will be replaced by Daniel Barcley, Andrew Buckingham and Adam Chambers for the two-day game.

- NZPA