FORD TROPY Black Caps boost Canterbury
At a glance
Rock bottom of the 50-over competition, winless Canterbury could be the team no-one wants to face over the back end of the campaign.
The Ford Trophy resumes on Saturday after a seven week hiatus for the Twenty20 Super Smash with five rounds to play before the top four finals.
Defending Ford Trophy champions Canterbury barely fired a shot before Christmas with suspended English star Ben Stokes in their line-up, losing all three matches.
They will have a vastly different look to their side with Black Caps Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Todd Astle and Matt Henry, all unwanted for New Zealand’s T20 side, providing them with significant firepower.
Otago v Canterbury at University Oval, Dunedin.
A return to domestic cricket could be just what’s needed for Latham’s confidence in white ball cricket.
Latham amassed just 48 runs in four innings during the Pakistan ODIs, with a highest score of 35, and needs to regain form in the domestic ranks ahead of England’s arrival.
He has hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman Glenn Phillips, who has had his moments with the bat in the Black Caps’ T20 side, breathing down his neck for a place in the ODI squad.
With the Black Caps’ ODI series against England not starting until February 25, Canterbury could potentially have their New Zealand quartet available for most of the competition.
Nicholls and Latham will bolster a Canterbury top order, who have struggled for runs in limited overs cricket this season. Latham will bat four and keep, with Nicholls at three, and the inform Cam Fletcher playing as a batsman.
Henry is also eager for cricket having had limited Black Caps opportunities this home summer. The right-arm seamer hasn’t done a lot wrong, including 4-53 in the final ODI against Pakistan in Wellington, his lone appearance in the series.
They aren’t the only players strengthening Canterbury with fast bowlers Ed Nuttall and Kyle Jamieson healthy again, having missed the pre-Christmas rounds through injury.
Canterbury will be without skipper Andrew Ellis, who has remained in Christchurch with his partner expecting their second child.
The Ford Trophy looms as Otago’s best chance for success this summer. Out of favour Black Caps allrounder Jimmy Neesham is back in the side after he was dropped by the Volts following their December 27 T20 match. Central Districts 9, Auckland 8, Otago 8, Northern Districts 8, Wellington 4, Canterbury 0.
Colin Munro (Akl) 225, Mark Chapman (Akl) 204, Michael Pollard (Can) 182, BJ Watling (ND) 174.
Mitchell McClenaghan (Akl), Brent Arnel (ND) 8, Jack Hunter (Ota), Todd Astle (Can) Tarun Nethula (Akl) 7. Neesham then briefly took time out with the blessing of New Zealand Cricket.
The Volts will be desperate to atone for a bleak Twenty20, where they finished last with two wins. They have made a pleasing start to the Ford Trophy, winning two of their first three matches and sit second equal.
Otago (from): Rob Nicol (c), Hamish Rutherford, Shawn Hicks, Neil Broom, Derek de Boorder, Jimmy Neesham, Michael Rippon, Christi Viljoen, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy, Jack Hunter, Michael Rae.
Canterbury (from): Cole McConchie (c), Michael Pollard, Chad Bowes, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham, Cam Fletcher, Todd Astle, Tim Johnston, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ed Nuttall, Will Williams.
Wellington v Northern Districts at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
Northern Districts will aim to carry over the confidence from their successful T20 campaign as they look to end their 50-over title drought.
ND haven’t captured the 50-over silverware since 2009-10, but have made a decent start to the competition, beating Wellington and Canterbury in their first three games.
Test wicketkeeper BJ Watling will be determined to prove his form with bat and gloves, and just as importantly his fitness, with the highly anticipated two-test series against England fast approaching.
Plunket Shield leaders Wellington must rediscover their white ball mojo.
The Firebirds won just once during the first three rounds of the Ford Trophy and fizzled out after a solid start to the T20 competition. They lost their last three games to miss out on a top three finals berth and will hope a change in format brings a change in results.
With four teams generously making the finals, coach Bruce Edgar will know his side is only a win or two from being back in the mix.
Wellington (from): Hamish Marshall (c), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Iain McPeake, Stephen Murdoch, Malcolm Nofal, Ollie Newton, Matt Taylor, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband.
Northern Districts (from): Dean Brownlie (c), Brent Arnel, Anton Devcich, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Joe Walker, BJ Watling.
Auckland v Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park, Auckland.
Ford Trophy leaders Central Districts finished the T20 with a flourish and will hope that flows over to 50-over cricket.
The Stags won four matches in a row to make the Super Smash final, but came unstuck, being thumped by nine wickets by Northern.
Central have plenty of class in the bowling ranks with Black Caps quick Adam Milne having recovered from a foot injury and New Zealand T20 international Seth Rance also available.
Ross Taylor was set to make an appearance for the Stags, but was summoned back to the Black Caps T20 side for the third match against Pakistan on Sunday with Colin Munro suffering a minor hamstring strain.
Auckland, who won two of their three Ford Trophy matches before Christmas, will have to survive without punishing opener Munro.
The Ford Trophy’s leading runscorer is set to miss the rest of the Aces campaign with his New Zealand limited overs commitments.
Central Districts (from): Will Young (c), Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Adam Milne, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, George Worker, Ryan McCone.
Auckland (from): Craig Cachopa (c), Michael Barry, Graeme Beghin, Jamie Brown, Mark Chapman, Donovan Grobbelaar, Ben Horne, Ben Lister, Tarun Nethula, Aniket Parikh, Jeet Raval, Sean Solia.