Auditions open for Black Caps
The country’s 90 contracted domestic cricketers have banked their first pay and begin the long journey towards early April, when Plunket Shield starts on Monday.
It’s highly likely to be the last season under the current format, with New Zealand Cricket and the Players’ Association set to nut out a new Master Agreement with the domestic structure a key discussion point.
For now it’s 10 full rounds of four-dayers – five of them before we move into Ford Trophy then the Burger King Twenty20 Super Smash starting on December 13. Here’s how the six teams shape up:
AUCKLAND
Last season: Plunket Shield 3rd, Ford Trophy 5th, T20 Super Smash 4th.
The lowdown: Auckland look strong again despite Rob Nicol’s departure to Dunedin. Plenty of young batsmen who should kick on, and veteran legspinner Tarun Nethula returns after taking a truckload of wickets last summer. They should see a fair bit of Lockie Ferguson, too.
One to watch: Sean Solia.
Contracted squad: Michael Barry, Jamie Brown, Craig Cachopa, Mark Chapman, Donovan Grobbelaar, Michael Guptill-bunce, Ben Horne, Matt Mcewan, Ben Lister, Robert O’donnell, Tarun Nethula, Aniket Parikh, Glenn Phillips, Raja Sandhu, Sean Solia.
Black Caps contracted: Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Jeet Raval.
NORTHERN DISTRICTS
Last season: Plunket Shield 2nd, Ford Trophy 4th (lost semifinal), T20 Super Smash 5th.
The lowdown: Will be competitive as always with Brent Arnel returning for another season after bowling as well as ever for Wellington. Veterans Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn anchor the batting and allrounder Scott Kuggleleijn will again be their trump card after earning Black Caps selection with his sharp pace.
One to watch: Zak Gibson.
Contracted squad: Brent Arnel, James Baker, Dean Brownlie, Henry Cooper, Anton Devcich, 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, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
Last season: Plunket Shield 5th, Ford Trophy 3rd (lost semifinal), T20 Super Smash beaten finalists.
The lowdown: A near identical squad to last year with Doug Bracewell back from a long injury layoff and looking to prove he’s still Black Caps worthy. The big key again is avoiding the regular injury crisis in their pace bowling ranks but they should be strong contenders in white-ball formats at least. Jesse Ryder is back again but ruled out of the opening Plunket Shield round.
One to watch: Josh Clarkson.
Contracted squad: Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Greg Hay, Ryan Mccone, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Mitchell Renwick, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, Will Young.
Black Caps contracted: Adam Milne, Ross Taylor, George Worker.
WELLINGTON
Last season: Plunket Shield 4th, Ford Trophy beaten finalists, T20 Super Smash champions.
The lowdown: The best whiteball team in New Zealand last year and with Grant Elliott, Hamish Marshall and Luke Ronchi in for the shortest format they’ll strongly defend their T20 title. Arnel’s departure may hurt them in Plunket Shield where they’re chasing a first title since 2004, and Hamish Bennett will be the key man leading the attack.
One to watch: Anurag Verma.
Contracted squad: Hamish Bennett, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Fraser Colson, Iain Mcpeake, Stephen Murdoch, Ollie Newton, Malcolm Nofal, Michael Papps, Jeetan Patel, Matt Taylor, Logan van Beek, Anurag Verma, Luke Woodcock, Peter Younghusband.
Black Caps contracted: None.
CANTERBURY
Last season: Plunket Shield champions, Ford Trophy champions, T20 Super Smash beaten semifinalists.
The lowdown: Three Plunket Shield titles in four years speaks for itself, and we’ll soon see the extent of Peter Fulton’s influence as he enjoys retirement. He leaves a hole in the batting order and the champions start the season with a bowling injury crisis and their captain and player of the season Andrew Ellis sidelined with a broken hand. Still, they seem to find a way of overcoming adversity and defections.
One to watch: Ken Mcclure.
Contracted squad: Todd Astle, Chad Bowes, Jack Boyle, Leo Carter, Andrew Ellis, Cameron Fletcher, Kyle Jamieson, Tim Johnston, Ken Mcclure, Cole Mcconchie, Nathan Mcnicol, Edward Nuttall, Michael Pollard, Henry Shipley, Will Williams.
Black Caps contracted: Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls.
OTAGO
Last season: Plunket Shield 6th, Ford Trophy 6th, T20 Super Smash 6th.
The lowdown: At least Otago can only improve. Last in all three competitions last year under South African coach Rob Walter, it’s a big season for Otago. Rob Nicol adds experience to the batting and test spinner Mark Craig is back from a long layoff while Jimmy Neesham – tasked with dominating domestic cricket – may be seen more in Volts colours.
One to watch: Warren Barnes.
Contracted squad: Matt Bacon, Warren Barnes, Mark Craig, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Josh Finnie, Shawn Hicks, Jack Hunter, Anaru Kitchen, Rob Nicol, Michael Rae, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Christi Viljoen, Brad Wilson.
Black Caps contracted: Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham, Neil Wagner.