Martin's groin strain adds to O'Donnell's headache

Decision on Chris Martin's fitness today. Picture / Dean Purcell

Just when he didn't need it, Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell received more depressing injury news yesterday.

Hoping his team can turn around a dreadful State Shield one-day record over the last year when they meet Northern Districts at Eden Park today, O'Donnell has lost a fourth international, and may have a fifth drop out this morning.

Already without Andre Adams (broken finger), Scott Styris (knee) and Kyle Mills (groin strain), O'Donnell was yesterday reaching for the pain killers when he learned top order batsman Lou Vincent fractured a finger fielding in Sunday's final ODI against Sri Lanka in Napier.

On top of that, fast-medium Chris Martin finished the game with a sore groin and a final decision on his fitness won't be made until today.

Wicketkeeper Reece Young returns after damaging a thigh in the round two game in Wellington. O'Donnell has named a 13 to be trimmed this morning. The under-strength lineup is still searching for their first win.

Northern, fourth on the table on five points, have international Hamish Marshall back and are led by his brother, James, who has hit some decent form with scores of a run-a-ball 69 against Central Districts, 33 off 27 against Canterbury and 93 from 101 balls in the one-run loss to Otago in Hamilton last Friday night.

"He's hitting the ball quite nicely," ND coach Bruce Blair said. "He's slotted back into the middle order and he's looked more comfortable there."

There is no sign of international spinner Daniel Vettori, who is pencilled in to return for the round six match against Wellington in Hamilton next Wednesday. Like Auckland, Northern won't finalise their lineup until today.

The big game of the round is at Carisbrook where leaders Wellington take on second-placed Otago.

Otago are unchanged but Wellington have offspinner Jeetan Patel back, but are without other New Zealand players Stephen Fleming and James Franklin.

Canterbury, lying third, host fifth-placed Central Districts in Christchurch. Canterbury have Nathan Astle, back in place of Gary Stead; Central Districts' only change from the team beaten in the capital on Saturday is new one-day international opener Jamie How in place of Peter Ingram.

Wellington have 12 points, Otago 10, Canterbury 9, Northern Districts 5, Central Districts 2, Auckland 0.

State Shield

Fourth round today, all noon

* Auckland v Northern Districts, Eden Park, Auckland: (from) Richard Jones (c), Martin Guptill, Tim McIntosh, Tama Canning, Rob Nicol, Carl Cachopa, Reece Young, Paul Hitchcock, Tim Lythe, Mayu Pasupati, Kerry Walmsley, Lance Shaw, Chris Martin.Northern Districts: (from) James Marshall (c), Nick Horsley, BJ Watling, Alun Evans, Hamish Marshall, Daniel Flynn, Mark Orchard, Joe Yovich, Peter McGlashan, Anton Devcich, Bruce Martin, Graham Aldridge, Te Ahu Davis.

* Canterbury v Central Districts, Hagley Oval, Canterbury: Chris Harris (c), Nathan Astle, Michael Papps, Shannon Stewart, Craig McMillan, Iain Robertson, Peter Fulton, Brent Findlay, Carl Anderson, Paul Wiseman, Leighton Burtt, Stephen Cunis.Central Districts: Jarrod Englefield (c), Jamie How, Geoff Barnett, Ross Taylor, Mathew Sinclair, Bevan Griggs, Evan Thompson, Lance Hamilton, Greg Hegglun, Brendon Diamanti, Michael Mason, Brent Hefford.

* Otago v Wellington, Carisbrook, Otago: Gareth Hopkins (c), Chris Gaffaney, Aaron Redmond, Jonathan Trott, Neil Broom, Greg Todd, Jordan Shead, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Bradley Scott, Warren McSkimming, Gareth Shaw.Wellington: Matthew Bell (c), Chris Nevin, Jesse Ryder, Neil Parlane, Michael Parlane, Mark Gillespie, Luke Woodcock, Jeetan Patel, Iain O'Brien, Grant Elliott, Sam Fairley, Scott Rasmussen.