Six shield cricketers to watch
Never has New Zealand domestic cricket started as early as October 10, but then again this is no ordinary season.
Most of the leading Black Caps were made available for round one, and possibly two, before departing for the United Arab Emirates then a packed home summer, making star-studded Northern Districts daunting foes for Otago at Bay Oval tomorrow.
But the next tier will be missing for chunks of the Plunket Shield and Ford Trophy pre-Christmas as NZA tour the UAE this month, then host India A.
It will provide a test of depth for all six major associations who each have an extra man under the new master agreement: 16 contracted players on September-to-April season retainers of $53,000 for those ranked No 1, down to $27,000 for No 16.
Central Stags will defend the Plunket Shield over two fewer rounds than last summer, split over three blocks, while the Ford Trophy is boosted to 10 rounds and will be all done by December 1. Here’s how the squads shape up for 2018-19:
AUCKLAND
Contracted players: Finn Allen, Michael Barry, Graeme Beghin, Jamie Brown, Craig Cachopa, Mark Chapman, Danru Ferns, Michael Guptill-Bunce, Ben Horne, Ben Lister, Mitchell McClenaghan, Matt McEwan, Robbie O’Donnell, Glenn Phillips, Sean Solia, Will Somerville. Black Caps contracted: Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Jeet Raval. In: Will Somerville (New South Wales). Out: Colin de Grandhomme (ND). Last season: Plunket Shield 3rd, one-day winners, T20 2nd (beaten in playoffs). Prospects: Took the interesting buildup route via an Abu Dhabi T20 tournament, but look to have most bases covered with promising young fast bowlers and the addition of Kiwi-born offspinner Somerville from Sydney. Chapman was huge last season and his level of Black Caps and NZA commitments will be a key to Auckland’s fortunes. Player to watch: Ben Lister. There’s something about a lanky left-arm seamer that causes batsmen headaches, and 22-year-old Lister did exactly that last summer. He snared 28 wickets from his first seven shield matches.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Contracted players: James Baker, Peter Bocock, Dean Brownlie, Henry Cooper, Sean Davey, Matthew Fisher, Daniel Flynn, Zak Gibson, Brett Hampton, Nick Kelly, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Bharat Popli, Brett Randell, Tim Seifert, Joe Walker. Black Caps contracted: Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. In: De Grandhomme (Auckland), Wagner (Otago). Out: Brent Arnel (retired). Last season: Plunket Shield 4th, one-dayers 3rd (beaten in playoffs), T20 winners. Prospects: Will field a dream team in round one but are unlikely to see their Black Caps frontliners much past that. Still have enough batting experience and punch with the ball to be effective but will miss T20 player of the year Anton Devcich who will be absent for parts of the season after turning down a contract for offshore franchise cricket. Player to watch: Daryl Mitchell. Edging towards veteran status but still only 27 and has matchwinning qualities, particularly with the bat. With more consistency the allrounder is good enough to dominate and lead ND’s title charge when their stars are absent.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
Contracted players: Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Greg Hay, Christian Leopard, Willem Ludick, Ryan McCone, Ajaz Patel, Navin Patel, Seth Rance, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, Will Young. Black Caps contracted: Adam Milne, Ross Taylor, George Worker. Out: Jesse Ryder (not contracted). Last season: Plunket Shield winners, one-dayers beaten finalists, T20 beaten finalists. Prospects: The most consistent side of last season and largely unchanged, aside from Will Young handing over the captaincy to Greg Hay (Plunket Shield) and Doug Bracewell (one-dayers). Will contend again in all formats, although they look the hardest hit by NZA early season commitments. Player to watch: Ben Wheeler. Had surgery to fuse his spine at season’s end, as successfully completed by Shane Bond, Matt Henry and Corey Anderson. Should be ready to roll in the Ford Trophy and, injury-free, is capable of a big all-round contribution to push for an international recall after some tough times in the black kit last summer.
WELLINGTON
Contracted players: Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Andrew Fletcher, Lauchie Johns, Iain McPeake, Jimmy Neesham, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal, Jeetan Patel, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Logan van Beek, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband. Black Caps contracted: None In: Jimmy Neesham (Otago). Out: Stephen Murdoch (Canterbury), Michael Papps (retired). Last season: Plunket Shield 2nd, one-dayers 5th, T20 5th. Prospects: Provided the hugely influential Bennett stays on the park, the Firebirds should contend in all formats. Allrounder Neesham’s arrival is intriguing as he targets a Black Caps recall, and he will certainly bolster the middle order. His pre-season form with the bat looked ominous. Player to watch: Devon Conway. A class act who averages 42 from 90 first-class matches, and is committed to chasing international cricket in the black helmet, the South African left-hander should step up and fill the Papps void in the top-order. Looks good enough to be a Black Cap in time and a big season will have him on the cusp.
CANTERBURY
Contracted players: Chad Bowes, Jack Boyle, Blake Coburn, Leo Carter, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Andrew Hazeldine, Kyle Jamieson, Ken McClure, Cole McConchie, Stephen Murdoch, Ed Nuttall, Fraser Sheat, Henry Shipley, Will Williams, Theo van Woerkom. Black Caps contracted: Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls. In: Stephen Murdoch (Wellington). Last season: Plunket Shield 6th, one-dayers 4th (beaten in playoffs), T20 4th. Prospects: A rebuilding period for the red and blacks who had a rocky last season and now have a new coach Brendon Donkers after Gary Stead’s elevation. If frontline bowlers Nuttall and Jamieson stay fit they could be a lethal duo with the ball and with Murdoch’s arrival they have batting depth. Player to watch: Kyle Jamieson. Will start the season in the UAE with NZA and should return to Christchurch firing after some impressive recent seasons with the ball. Tall, hostile and bouncy, he’s on the national selectors’ radar in a pace bowling logjam, and showed last summer against England he can bat too.
OTAGO
Contracted players: Matt Bacon, Warren Barnes, Neil Broom, Mark Craig, Jacob Duffy, Josh Finnie, Shawn Hicks, Josh Tasman-Jones, Anaru Kitchen, Michael Rae, Mitch Renwick, Michael Rippon, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Christi Viljoen, Brad Wilson. Black Caps contracted: None In: Mitch Renwick (CD). Out: Neil Wagner (ND), Jimmy Neesham (Wellington), Derek de Boorder (work), Rob Nicol (retired). Last season: Plunket Shield 5th, one-dayers 6th, T20 6th. Prospects: The only way is up for the Volts after last season’s horrors which prompted an independent review into the high performance environment in Dunedin. Coach Rob Walter remains and has a big task to lift a side. Player to watch: Warren Barnes. Made the news for wearing a protective mask while bowling in the Super Smash, then finished the season with a nine-wicket haul against Canterbury in his second first-class match. The South African has always looked a rising fast bowler and the Volts will need him to lead their attack.