Cricket reps begin to take shape
The Marlborough senior cricket selectors have named a 19-strong pre-season squad to prepare for the 2017-2018 representative campaign.
Two new, but not so fresh, faces have been included among the players who were part of Marlborough’s rep campaign last season. Former skipper Jerrym Lamb, who has been overseas, is back in the fold, while allrounder Chris Turkington is also included after returning to the province.
Former Black Caps bowler Ben Wheeler, who played for Marlborough during their Chapple Cup campaign last season but played his club cricket in Hawke’s Bay, is also named, along with fellow left armer Nick Weaver, who missed the majority of the 2016-17 season with injury. Allrounder Harry MacDonald and wicketkeeper Ma’ara Ave, who both left the province before the conclusion of last season, are also in the mix.
South African Evan Jones, who impressed for Renwick and the Dolphins after his arrival late last season, has been included.
Four members of last year’s squad - Andrew McCaa, Corey Bovey, Heath Murphy and Mark Gear - were unavailable.
The Marlborough pre-season squad is Alex Kennedy, Ben Blackman, Ben Wheeler, Chris Turkington, Evan Jones, Harry MacDonald, Jerrym Lamb, Josh Poole, Landon Neal, Louis Woollcombe, Luke Frankland, Ma’ara Ave, Matt Deaker, Matt McCormick, Matthew Stretch, Nick Weaver, Rikki Bovey, Sam Boyce and Tarin Mason.
Last season’s management team will again guide the rep side’s fortunes. Jarrod Englefield retains his role as head coach and batting coach, Greg Logan is bowling coach with Colin Wood as fielding coach. The three coaches, plus manager Greg Stretch, will form the selection panel.
The reps open their season with a pre-season tournament hit-out against some Christchurch club teams in Blenheim on September 30-October 1.
Then it is on to the Chapple Cup tournament in Napier from October 13-15. After that, Marlborough will challenge Nelson for the Newman Shield in Nelson on November 5, then travel to Westport on November 18 to play a one-dayer against Buller, as part of their 150th jubilee.
On December 9-10 the reps return to Westport to open their zone three Hawke Cup qualifying campaign against the home side, they play Canterbury Country at Horton Park on January 20-21 before meeting Nelson away on January 27-28.
The final Newman Shield match will be played on March 4, at the holder’s venue.