Boult, Wagner boost ND as one-dayers begin At a glance
Black Caps quick Trent Boult will represent Northern Districts in a one-day match for the first time in over four years when the Ford Trophy begins today.
New Zealand’s Twenty20 contingent departs today for the United Arab Emirates to face Pakistan, leaving those involved in only the one-day and test squads to turn out in domestic cricket.
Boult is the most high-profile and will don the ND maroon for their Ford Trophy 50-over opener against defending champions Auckland at Eden Park’s outer oval. Test seamer Neil Wagner will also play for ND, giving them a high quality pace attack against the Aces.
It will be Boult’s first Ford Trophy match for ND since April 2014 when he featured in the 50-over final against Wellington at Mt Maunganui.
The Black Caps play three T20s against Pakistan, starting next Thursday, while the first of the three ODIs isn’t until November 8, followed by the three-match test series.
Left-arm swing bowler Boult was part of a star-studded ND team in the opening round of the Plunket Shield competition, which also included Wagner, Black Caps captain Kane Williamson, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme and Ish Sodhi, and former New Zealand players Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn.
Canterbury will field a strong team for their match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve with Black Caps fast bowler Matt Henry and batsmen Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, who are in the ODI and tests teams, all named.
Otago have been bolstered by former Black Caps Neil Broom and Anaru Kitchen, who aren’t available for first-class cricket either this summer, against Central Districts in Nelson.
The Ford Trophy has been pushed forward this season and will be played over an extended 10-round format, where teams play each other twice. The final will be played on December 1. Wellington v Canterbury at Basin Reserve, Wellington: Wellington: Hamish Bennett (c), Jakob Bhula, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Andrew Fletcher, Lauchie Johns, Iain McPeake, Jimmy Neesham, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal, Ben Sears, Peter Younghusband.
Canterbury: Cole McConchie (c), Chad Bowes, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Steve Murdoch, Henry Nicholls, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley, Will Williams, Theo van Woerkom.
Auckland v Northern Districts at Eden Park outer oval, Auckland: Northern Districts: Dean Brownlie (c), Peter Bocock, Trent Boult, Henry Cooper, Anton Devcich, Daniel Flynn, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Daryl Mitchell, Brett Randell, Neil Wagner.
Auckland: Craig Cachopa (c), Finn Allen, Michael Barry, Graeme Beghin, Jamie Brown, Danru Ferns, Ben Horne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt McEwan, Robbie O’Donnell, Sean Solia, Will Somerville.
Central Districts v Otago at Saxton Oval, Nelson:
Central Districts: Doug Bracewell (c), Josh Clarkson, Ma’ara Ave, Greg Hay, Christian Leopard, Willem Luddick, Ryan McCone, Felix Murray, Kieran NoemaBarnett, Navin Patel, Bevan Small, Ben Smith.
Otago: Mark Craig (cc), Jacob Duffy (cc), Matthew Bacon, Warren Barnes, Neil Broom, Josh Finnie, Shawn Hicks, Anaru Kitchen, Mitch Renwick, Michael Rippon, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith.