Crricket: Auckland coach eyes club prospects

New Auckland Aces cricket coach Tony Sail will take a good deal of interest in the opening round of one-day club play on Saturday.

Former Wellington representatives Heath Davis and John Aiken are included in the Cornwall line-up against Waitakere, Canterbury top-order batsman Llorne Howell will turn out for East Coast Bays against Parnell, and Central Districts medium-fast bowler David Blake has joined Howick Pakuranga, who play Eden Roskill.

With Auckland's first match, a Shell Cup fixture, not scheduled until December 28, he expects all players vying for places in the starting line-up to perform well at club level.

"It is important that they perform strongly for their clubs," Sail said, "because if they are not showing form at that level then they are hardly likely to do so for the Aces."

Cornwall, last season's champions, have been further strengthened by the return from Wellington of former skipper Charlie Ewart. But last season's skipper, Aaron Barnes, will again be in charge.

Promising opening batsman Tim McIntosh is attending the New Zealand Cricket Academy in Christchurch and will return to Parnell after November 12.

A West Australian squad member, 22-year-old Tama Canning, who transferred this year from the Australian Academy to its New Zealand counterpart, will come north to play for Suburbs New Lynn on the same date.

Canning, Sail said, was a natural allrounder who bowled medium-fast and batted in the middle order and could be especially useful with Dion Nash likely to be mainly occupied by his duties with New Zealand.

Only one side, Papatoetoe, have named an overseas professional in their ranks - Herefordshire Minor Counties allrounder Chris Burrows. But Waitakere are also negotiating to bring an English professional out.

In other matches North Shore play University Akarana, Takapuna meet Birkenhead and the strong Grafton side play Kumeu.