Big names absent as top two clash
Wellington and Central Districts will put their undefeated records on the line as they battle for Plunket Shield ascendancy today.
New Zealand A’s match against the West Indies, as well as Black Caps callups, has depleted all six domestic teams to some degree, as Auckland prepare to take on Canterbury and Otago get ready for Northern Districts.
It will be the final Plunket Shield round until next March, with white ball cricket taking over the rest of the summer.
CD v Wellington
Saxton Oval, Nelson
The visitors come into the match with four wins from four outings to start the season, sitting on 76 points to Central’s 63.
They lost rampant paceman Hamish Bennett to a late New Zealand A callup, replacing injured CD bowler Adam Milne. They have brought in an intriguing replacement in former South Africa under-19 representative Travis Muller, who has a firstclass bowling average of 23.78 from 42 matches. They also lost wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to the A team, with local club player Lachie Johns called in for a potential firstclass debut.
The New Zealand A game was even more keenly felt in the Central squad, with the injured Milne joined by key batsmen Tom Bruce and George Worker.
They have started with three
wins and a draw in their opening four matches and have more than enough firepower still at their disposal to trouble Wellington, including former Black Cap Jesse Ryder. He has an average of 152.33 this season after two centuries, two 50s and a 31 not out from five innings.
Otago v ND
Molyneux Park, Alexandra
As is always the case, Northern Districts have lost the plethora of Black Caps who pepper their squad list, although Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee and Trent Boult were unable to help them beat Auckland last time out.
They sit bottom with just 21 points after three losses and a draw, and add Scott Kuggeleijn to their list of departees from that Auckland match.
They keep BJ Watling as he looks to prove his fitness ahead of the series against the West Indies, while there is enough experience from the likes of Brent Arnel, Dean Brownlie and Daniel Flynn.
The hosts sit fourth on 33 points. They have one win to their name, although they were two wickets away from victory over Central last time out.
The Neils, Broom and Wagner, are off on international duty,
replaced by potential first-class debutants Matthew Bacon and Shawn Hicks.
Auckland v Canterbury
Eden Park outer oval
These two proud provinces will be looking to drag themselves back up to the frontrunners with an outright victory.
Auckland haven’t played too badly for two wins and two losses, but the pace being set by the front two means they are already 33 points adrift of Wellington.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and opening batsman Jeet Raval have joined New Zealand A, while Colin Munro was a late withdrawal from that squad due to illness and will not be fit enough to line up in this one. Colin de Grandhomme is with the Black Caps as well.
Canterbury got off to a tough start in their campaign, losing three of their first four, with their only win an eight-run triumph over winless Northern Districts.
Tom Latham and Todd Astle have departed for A duty, while they are also missing Ken McClure, Henry Nicholls and Matt Henry from the 11 which lost to Wellington in their last match. In come Blake Coburn, Daniel Sams, Michael Pollard, Fraser Sheat and Michael Davidson.