Cricket: Auckland go in search of match practice

Auckland head south today in search of sun, outdoor practice facilities and a two-game lead-in to the start of the domestic season.

A squad of 15 are travelling to Napier, where they have a two-day game against Central Districts starting tomorrow and a one-dayer on Friday ahead of the first round of the first-class championship, against the same opposition at the same venue starting next Tuesday.

Among those for whom these days loom as important is test opener Tim McIntosh, who will want to take every chance to find some form before Pakistan arrive for their three-test series later this month.

Fast bowler Daryl Tuffey, who broke a bone in his hand at the Champions Trophy in South Africa in September, is back playing club cricket and after a tidy return to New Zealand duty after a four-year absence, will want to re-present his claims for the coming international season.

The squad includes a couple of new names, Pieter Erasmus, a South African-born left arm fast-medium bowler from North Shore, and Papatoetoe offspinner Bhupinder Singh, who did well for the Auckland A team last summer.

Singh is the third spinner in the squad, alongside left armer Ronnie Hira and legspinner Tarun Nethula, who topped the wicket taking list in the championship last summer with 28 at 34.6 apiece, and earned a New Zealand A trip to India.

Auckland's English import, Ravi Bopara, is expected to join the squad by the end of this week.

Auckland began pre-season fitness a couple of months ago, charged up sandhills at Bethells Beach and did a Navy course at Whangaparaoa.

But indoor training is only of limited value, so coach Paul Strang hopes to get some freshness into his players in Napier this week.

"To be honest the guys have seen very little play on grass so these games will provide a good chance for them to just get used to that environment again," Strang said.

Pakistan allrounder Yasir Arafat will be Otago's overseas professional for the one-day competitions this summer, replacing Englishman Dmitri Mascarenhas.

Arafat, 27, is in Pakistan's squad to come to New Zealand for three tests later this month. After that, he will play the one-day and Twenty20 competitions. He has played three tests and 11 ODIs for Pakistan.

"In terms of what our skill mix is, he fits in nicely," Otago coach Mike Hesson said. Otago are defending their domestic Twenty20 title.