with Adrian Seconi
The opening weekend of the summer featured several outstanding efforts. Otago backup keeper Max Chu reminded the Volts selectors he can bat as well with a classy 114 to help CarisbrookDunedin beat UniversityGrange in its comeback match.
But probably the most exciting performance came from former Melbourne Renegades player Tom Beaton. He smashed 91 from 70 deliveries. The former Australian under19 captain has signed a declaration of intent to qualify as a local player and could add considerable value to the Otago order in the not to distant future. If you have a green top order and you are going up against an allstar bowling attack featuring Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, it is never a good idea to go into the game with four specialist batsmen. But Otago opted to do just that by naming Josh TasmanJones as 12th man for its match against the ‘‘Northern Districts Black Caps’’. Stacking your side with allrounders is a reasonable tactic in limitedovers cricket, but you are much better served with specialists in proper cricket. The decision had ramifications for Mitch Renwick as well. He had to bat at No 4 and keep wickets — that is a big ask of anyone unless you’re Kumar Sangakkara. The McCullum Cup got under way despite some damp weather in the city yesterday. King’s High School has made a strong start with two wins. It beat defending champion John McGlashan by 10 wickets in its opening twenty20 match and then accounted for Otago Boys’ High School by just four runs. It was able to defend a score of 70 thanks in no small part to Nathan Hastie who took four wickets for three runs. In another notable result, the Sparks development team lost its opening game to South Otago High School by 45 runs. The tournament concludes today. You may have picked up a slight bias against limitedovers cricket in the column throughout the years. Notes From Slip has nothing against light entertainment. But for a serious appraisal of a player’s ability the Plunket Shield has always been the best measure. That is probably no longer the case. It is desperately sad to see the tournament downgraded to a development competition. Had to happen with so many players now opting not to play firstclass and concentrate on the shorter formats instead. What impact will that have on our test side in the future?